This is why the sky turned pink over Sheffield this morning

Getting up for work on a Tuesday morning is never easy but it's always helpful when there's a beautiful pink sky overhead.
Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1
Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1

And that's what many Sheffield residents were met with this morning, including photographer Wendy Scott who captured these images over Crosspool.

But, why does the sky actually turn pink?

Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1
Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1

According to the BBC, the colours of the sunrise (or sunset) result from a phenomenon called scattering.

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When the sun rises, or sets, it is lower down in the sky and the light has further to travel.

Light is made up of a variety of different colours and, as a result, we often get rainbows.

Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1
Sky over Crosspool this morning - Credit: Wendy Scott @Wendspix1

However, blue light can't get very far so much of it 'scatters' out before reaching us. While red light can travel much further meaning the sky appears more red and pink than usual.

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Molecules and small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter.

This scattering then affects the colour of light coming from the sky, but the details are then determined by the wavelength and size of the particle.

So, keep your eyes peeled as there may be another pink sky tonight!