See Sunset from Space: Orange Clouds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores whether orange clouds seen during a sunset on Earth would be visible from space. Participants consider the optical effects that create sunset colors and the visibility of these phenomena from a space perspective.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant wonders if orange clouds from a sunset would be visible from space, expressing a desire to see such images.
  • Another participant argues that the colors seen at sunset are due to light traveling through the atmosphere and interacting with particles, suggesting these colors would not be visible from space.
  • Some participants agree that the sunset colors are an optical effect, but express uncertainty about the visibility of these effects from space.
  • A participant shares a NASA image showing orange hues on clouds and the ocean, suggesting that such colors can be observed from space.
  • Another participant acknowledges their previous misunderstanding and notes that sunsets are visible from the shuttle for a brief period, questioning if the colors are reflections off the Earth.
  • One participant describes an experiment involving light passing through water and milk to explain how different colors are filtered, linking this to the visibility of sunset colors.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about the visibility of sunset effects from space, contemplating the nature of clouds and their potential to reflect light.
  • A participant shares another NASA image, asserting the spectacular nature of the colors captured in space.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether sunset colors can be seen from space, with multiple competing views and ongoing uncertainty regarding the optical effects involved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific images and experiments to support their points, but there are unresolved questions about the conditions under which sunset colors might be visible from space.

ncr7
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I was wondering if anyone knew if you look at the Earth and see a sunset from space would you see the orange clouds from space? I think it would be cool to get a picture of the orange clouds from space... or something to that affect.


I don't even know why I just thought of that lol. I am working on my chem and it is just a random thought I had.
 
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No, the orange and other colors you see at sunset are caused by the light traveling a longer distance in the lower atmosphere, particles in the air can also affect the colors. So, no, you wouldn't be able to observe the colors from space.
 
so it is more of an optical effect then... I guess that makes sense. I didn't think that it was but I thought it would be cool if it did.
 
ncr7 said:
so it is more of an optical effect then... I guess that makes sense. I didn't think that it was but I thought it would be cool if it did.
Well, I could be completely wrong. You might want to wait until someone else responds. :biggrin: But, I'm pretty sure the effect can't be observed from space. I've seen some very cool phenomena like sun pillars and ice halos. Here's a website with some cool photos and descriptions. Unfortunately I have never seen a photo of a sun pillar to rival one I saw a couple of years ago. The picture on this site is nothing compared to it. It was a vibrant hot pink pillar twice as wide as that thin washed out thing they show, but I couldn't find a camera with batteries.

http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/pillar.htm
 
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In this NASA image you can see some orange hues on the clouds and reflected off of the ocean:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/images/EO/highres/ISS007/ISS007-E-10807.JPG

-GeoMike-
 
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Wow, see, I was wrong.

Ok, if I had googled sunsets from space, I would have found this. From the shuttle, sunsets are visible for 13 seconds, every 90 minutes.

http://neurolab.jsc.nasa.gov/wintriv.htm

So what we're looking at is the colored light reflecting off of land?
 
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GeoMike said:
In this NASA image you can see some orange hues on the clouds and reflected off of the ocean:
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/images/EO/highres/ISS007/ISS007-E-10807.JPG

-GeoMike-

That photo is spectacular.
 
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Awesome picture... Yeah I guess there is some... I think it is actually reflecting off the Earth probably ocean. I went to google and he told me all about it lol. I found that sun sets and sun rises are actually caused by the particles in the air such as dust, clouds and such. But it shows the different colors because it is on the horizon giving it more atmospheres to travel through. It told about this experiment on the site I found. What they did was used a flash light and a glass of water. When you shine the light through the glass with just water you get all the colors of the spectrum, but after that they poured milk in with the water and only the Red and Orange colors came through. I guess it has something to do with it's wave lengths and intensity.

Thanks for the picture :u) I am going to set that one as my desktop wallpaper.It’s to bad it doesn’t have the brightness of the red sunsets blasting into space, how cool would that be :u) I think that would be awesome.
 
Is that picture real? How long are those shadows?
 
  • #10
hmm... I am not sure now if they can see the effects from space or not. I guess I would have to see when I get up there someday :u) or ask an astronaut whenever I get the chance.

the way it explained it before was making it sound more like a filter, so I was thinking you would have to be on the other side to see it. Now I am thinking since clouds are made out of water particles it could reflect off of them and into space.
 
  • #11
This picture was taken on orbit by the STS-111 crew

http://imagingservices.msfc.nasa.gov/Wallpaper/800x600/sts111-321-024.jpg

So I'd say the colors are pretty spectacular :-p
 
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