Notable people associated with Fairfax County include U.S. Presidents James K. Polk and John F. Kennedy, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and auth...
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!
Fairfax County, Va. is an affluent and growing metropolitan area in Northern Virginia. The county has a population of just over 5 million and covers a land area of about 334 square miles. Major geographic features include the Potomac River and its many tributaries, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Shenandoah Valley.
The climate in Fairfax County is classified as temperate, with average annual temperatures ranging from the low 20s in the winter to the high 80s in the summer. The county is dominated by the Blue Ridge Mountains, which provide a significant amount of natural insulation and contribute to the mild climate. In addition, the county is located in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., adding to the metropolitan area's labor pool and economic clout.
Notable landmarks in Fairfax County include the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial, both in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The county also has a number of historical plantation homes, including Monticello and Arlington National Cemetery. Other major attractions in Fairfax County include the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, the Fairfax Outlets mall, and the quaint colonial towns of Lexington and Orange.
Notable people associated with Fairfax County include U.S. Presidents James K. Polk and John F. Kennedy, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and authors Toni Morrison and Harper Lee.
}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.