Sunset

The sunset over the San Juans was breathtaking last night - absolutely stunning, in fact.  Somewhere I had read that pollution contributed to the colors in sunsets.  Hmmm - definitely not true, I've learned.

The truth is is that tropospheric aerosols --- when present in abundance in the lower atmosphere as they often are over urban and continental areas --- do not enhance sky colors --- they subdue them. Clean air is, in fact, the main ingredient common to brightly colored sunrises and sunsets. 
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/corfidi/sunset/

I finally gave up trying to take pictures of the spectacular array, partly because it was changing by the minute, but mostly so I could just sit and absorb the beauty.  Superlatives are almost useless to describe it.  I'm just grateful to have experienced it.

"Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting."

– Richard Paul Evans

"Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under."

– C. JoyBell C.