Why are sunsets and sunrises red, orange and yellow?

Coronado Sunset 2

Sunset in Coronado, CA on January 31, 2018 – iPhone photo

From the University of Wisconsin: “Because the sun is low on the horizon, sunlight passes through more air at sunset and sunrise than during the day, when the sun is higher in the sky. More atmosphere means more molecules to scatter the violet and blue light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of your line of sight. The other colors continue on their way to your eyes. This is why sunsets are often yellow, orange, and red.”

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