is the sky really blue?

Answer 1

It depends on what you mean by "the sky." Think about it.

We use the phrase "the sky" as if it were a *thing*, an object that reflects light. Like saying "the ocean", or "the Grand Canyon." But we all know that the sky isn't an object.

Instead, we are looking *through* the atmosphere into space. As many people point out, the atmosphere scatters short wavelengths of sunlight (blues), giving us the impression that we are seeing blue coming at us from all directions (Rayleigh scattering). (And BTW, it has nothing to do with reflecting the ocean ... c'mon people ... the sky is still blue in all directions in Montana, far far away from any ocean.)

So if we think of "the sky" to mean the same thing we think of as the "night sky" ... namely deep space ... then no, the true color of "the sky" is "black" and it is only the intervening atmosphere that is fooling us into thinking we see blue in the daytime.

But if we think of "the sky" as the atmosphere, then, yes the sky is blue in the day, and completely transparent at night (when there is no sunlight filling the sky with blue).

Myself, I tend to think of "the sky" as the atmosphere ... so I would say yes.

How's that for an answer?

Answer 2

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.

However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.

Answer 3

if you meant light blue, no, actually is the reflection of the ocean´s water on the lower layers of the atmosphere given by sunlight. That´s why at night the sky is dark blue, it´s real color.

Answer 4

no its the way the light from the sun reflects off of
the upper atmosphere by the way i almost forgot the sky is really multi colored if you look at a rainbow youll see that it is multi colored and the moisture that causes rainbow is also affected by the same refection as the sky just more so

Answer 5

no, its just the way light is broken down and seen.

Answer 6

yes, it's a reflection of the ocean.

Answer 7

no

Answer 8

only if you're not color blind