Lately, sunsets have been spectacular shades of pink and red. The sun seems to turn into a hot ball of vivid color. This is due to an effect called scattering. The rays of light are disrupted by fine particles in the air. Things such as smoke, pollution, activity high in the atmosphere, and lower particles that are more specific to the area and time of year can interfere. The waning light of day is also a factor in the appearance of vivid colors.

One of the stronger meteor showers, the Perseids, peaks around this time of year. The shower can be seen from mid-July through September. It’s best to look after midnight, in a location not disturbed by lights. In the northwestern sky, a constellation that makes a sort of sideways W can be seen. This is Cassiopeia. Below it is Perseus, which is where the Perseid meteors spring from. Cloudy skies are a perpetual problem, but because this shower is known to produce brighter meteors, it’s still worth spending some time watching the sky.

The moon has also had dramatic appearances. It has at times been orange and reddish. Some lucky people were able to see the “super moon” on Mon., Aug. 19^th.