Why

Why?

In this thread we ask why...?

 

Why does the reflection of the sun make the sky blue?

 

Well it isn't a reflection, it is refraction. The sunlight is refracted as it hits the Earth's atmosphere, spreading out the different wavelengths of light.

 

Ah yes, refraction. I knew I used the wrong word.

 

I don't know how to ask that with a 'why' at beginning but I really wonder - does that mean any planet we can colonise will have a blue sky?

 

No, because the way the sun in our solar system interacts with the atmosphere could be different on another planet. And vice versa if it was a different Sun type.

 

I was just thinking because it's the oxygen in the atmosphere that's responsible for the blue here. (IIRC)

 

Well it would depend how we breath and receive oxygen on another planet.

 

I hope we could use our lungs for it. Otherwise we might be mightily screwed...

 

Technically it is the nitrogen in the atmosphere that makes the sky blue...

Of course any planet needs to have a specifdic percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere..

Too little we suffocate...

Too much and we die of oxygen poisoning, and the first spark will set the whole atmosphere ablaze...

 

Why is it the nitrogen?

 

Not sure, but it does make up about 70% of the atmosphere

 

You have to do better than that to convince me, because that documentation said it was the oxygen.
And in this case I'd rather believe a docu than you.

 

Okay, had a look on the internet, and it just says that the gas molecules scatter the light and absorb the shorter wavelengths (blue) and then emit them in all directions...

It doesn't say any in particular...

(I always thought it was nitrogen, but oh well..)

 

My find, too.
i hope at least one source would say which particles in particular.
Oh well, let's call it a tie.

 

why does QGR keep getting nominated?

 

I'll look it up after I go to sleep. We'll have a whole thread about it or something.

 

Why are you going to sleep?

 

Because she worked for 16 hours...

 

Yeah and I have to be back there in a few hours again.

 

If I knew that, I wouldn't keep getting nominated!

 

Why don't you know?