Every day
Sunsets and golden hour
The daily show. Some nights the clouds turn it into fireworks.
When and where to look
Every evening. Golden hour is the low, warm light in the hour or so before sunset, and the colour in the clouds often peaks ten to twenty minutes after the sun has set.
Why it happens
At sunset the light crosses so much air that the blues scatter away and the reds and golds come through. The best ones need clouds: high, broken cloud catches the colour after the sun has gone down, while a thick low layer blocks it.
How to catch one
- Stay after the sun has gone: the afterglow is often the best part.
- Face west, then turn around: the opposite sky turns pink too.
- Water, wet streets and open fields double the light.
Nature notifications
Wildlife, seasonal changes, weather and sky events near you.