When you see the vibrant colors of the sunset or the amazing pinks of a sunrise, you want to be patient. Wait around for another 15-20 minutes so you can see if the sun and the angle of the clouds change even more.

Within the visible range of light, red light waves are scattered the least by atmospheric gas molecules. So at sunrise and sunset, when the sunlight travels a long path through the atmosphere to reach our eyes, the blue light has been mostly removed, leaving mostly red and yellow light remaining.

Where to Find the Best Sunsets in the World

• The Serengeti, Tanzania. Serengeti.
• Key West, Florida. Key West, Florida.
• Grundarfjordur, Iceland. Grundarfjordur.
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Isle of Skye, Scotland. Isle of Skye.
• Santorini, Greece. Credit: Pedro Szekely via Flickr.com.
• Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Agra, India.

Why winter sunsets are best, according to a meteorologist

• With the days becoming shorter and shorter, the people over at Vox started noticing that the sunsets at their office in Washington DC were becoming more beautiful.
• As it turns out, sunsets are, in fact, better during the colder months of the year, according to NOAA meteorologist Stephen Corfidi.

Cloud Cover and Type of Clouds The cloud cover is the most important factor in determining when a fantastic sunrise or sunset will occur. For an ideal sunrise or sunset, you should look for a high cloud cover. If the clouds are too low, they will block the red and orange colors that we are hoping to see in the sky.

The long trip leaves the longer wavelength colors (those reds, yellows, and oranges), but scatters the shorter wavelengths out. A few clouds also help the sunrise become more vibrant, but not all types of clouds are good. The best clouds for vibrant colors are the middle-level or high-level clouds.

Sometimes clouds seem too heavy to allow any sunlight through them at sunset and dawn. However, there is often a clear area just above the horizon, even when cloud cover seems complete. Wait to see if the sun slips under the clouds for a few minutes – the result can be spectacular.

Particularly for sunrises in ideal conditions the best color tends to come at least 10 minutes before the sun comes up. So it is really important to arrive on location for sunrise at least an hour before the sun is due to rise, get set up, find your composition and prepare for the show.

“Literally, the first day you wake up [before sunrise] you have a better day because you’re so much more focused and so much more productive.” Plus, she adds, you’ll sport a clearer mind while feeling calmer and more motivated. Even better, you’ll sleep like a dream that night.