Cumberland Furnace, located in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania, is one of only a few remaining ironworks in the United States. T...
Sunset
Twilight
Darkness
Most people know that sunset is the time when the sun goes down. But did you know that the sun doesn't actually set? Instead, Earth rotates into darkness, giving us the illusion that the sun is setting. So what causes sunset?
Well, it's a combination of things. The Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight in every direction, but blue and violet light are scattered more than other colors. This is why the sky is usually blue during the daytime. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the atmosphere becomes thicker and more dense.
This scattering of sunlight happens to a greater extent, and we see red and orange light more than blue and violet light. That's why sunset is usually a beautiful red or orange color. So next time you see sunset, remember that you're actually seeing Earth rotate into darkness!
Cumberland Furnace, located in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania, is one of only a few remaining ironworks in the United States. The furnace was built in 1793 and produced blast furnace iron until the early 20th century. The furnace is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated National Historic Landmark. The city of Cumberland Furnace is located along the Youghiogheny River about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. The city has a population of about 300 and is served by the Cumberland Furnace Regional Airport. Cumberland Furnace is locally known for its iron sandstone formations and is also home to the Sierra Club's headquarters in eastern Pennsylvania. Nearby attractions include the Andrew Carnegie National Historic Site, the Pinehurst ski resort, and the C&O Canal.
}As the sun sets, the sky slowly grows dark. For many people, this is a time to relax and wind down for the day. But have you ever wondered exactly when it gets dark? The answer may surprise you.
Did you know that darkness actually begins long before the sun sets? As the sun gets lower in the sky, its light has to travel through more atmosphere. This filters out some of the blue light, making the sun look redder. At the same time, shadows get longer and darker. So by the time the sun finally dips below the horizon, darkness has already begun to fall.
Of course, not all places on Earth experience darkness at the same time. Near the equator, the sun sets and rises almost directly overhead. This means that there is less of a difference between daytime and nighttime. Closer to the poles, however, the sun stays low in the sky for much of the year. This leads to longer periods of darkness during wintertime.