Mendota, Illinois is located in Clay County and has a population of around 5,000. Mendota is north of River Forest, west of Elgin, and south of...
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!
Mendota, Illinois is located in Clay County and has a population of around 5,000. Mendota is north of River Forest, west of Elgin, and south of Chicago. Mendota is part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The city is in the extreme southern portion of Illinois and is bordered by the Mississippi River to the south, the Illinois River to the west, and the railroad tracks that run north-south. Mendota experiences a cold winter with temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and mild summers with temperatures in the high 80s. Mendota is within driving distance of major Illinois cities including Chicago, Springfield, Decatur, Peoria, and Madison. Mendota is in the Upper Midwest and is closest to the state capital, Springfield. Mendota is part of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and is served by Amtrak.
}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.