Norfolk's famously big skies have been bathed in rich hues of orange, red, yellow and pink as the sun has set each evening over the past week or so. But why are sunsets seemingly more majestic this time of year?

Eastern Daily Press: Clouds illuminated by a majestic sunset in Cromer. Picture: DEB HERBERTClouds illuminated by a majestic sunset in Cromer. Picture: DEB HERBERT (Image: Archant)

Part of the reason is simply that autumn and winter sunsets are more noticeable because they take place earlier in the day - often when people are outside to appreciate them. Today's sunset (Thursday, October 25) is due to happen at 5.36pm, right when many of us will be making our way home after the day's work.

But the science behind sunsets is more complicated.

As we know, the sun curves an increasingly lower path through the sky as winter draws nearer and it stays lower, near the horizon, for much longer than in summer.

This means the sun's light has to pass through more of the Earth's atmosphere, and therefore more molecules, before it hits our eyes.

Eastern Daily Press: Clouds illuminated by a majestic sunset in Cromer. Picture: DEB HERBERTClouds illuminated by a majestic sunset in Cromer. Picture: DEB HERBERT (Image: Archant)

Blue light, which has a relatively short wavelength, gets easily scattered by the greater volume of air molecules, leaving more space for those gorgeous reds, oranges and pinks to reach us.

The recent clear skies have also meant less pollution in the atmosphere, which further diffuse the hues.

And the high, streaky cirrus clouds we have been seeing overhead have provided the perfect canvas to see the detail and contrasts in all those stunning colours.

MORE: Readers capture photos of beautiful sunset over NorfolkHave you taken a photo of a brilliant Norfolk sunset recently? Email stuart.anderson@archant.co.uk

Eastern Daily Press: Beautiful colours in the sky at MouseholdBeautiful colours in the sky at Mousehold (Image: (c) copyright newzulu.com)

Eastern Daily Press: A beautiful autumn sunset in Cromer. Picture: STELLA EVANSA beautiful autumn sunset in Cromer. Picture: STELLA EVANS (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: A beauitful Norfolk sunset. Picture: ANDREW HALEA beauitful Norfolk sunset. Picture: ANDREW HALE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: A sunset at Stiffkey. Picture: MICHELLE DOEA sunset at Stiffkey. Picture: MICHELLE DOE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: A sunset at East Ruston. Picture: MICHELLE DOEA sunset at East Ruston. Picture: MICHELLE DOE (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The sunset at Toftwood. Picture: STEVE ELLISThe sunset at Toftwood. Picture: STEVE ELLIS (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Beautiful colours light up the sunset sky over King's Lynn. Picture: NATALIE RBeautiful colours light up the sunset sky over King's Lynn. Picture: NATALIE R (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: A sunset over Bowthorpe. Picture: JEAN COLMANA sunset over Bowthorpe. Picture: JEAN COLMAN (Image: Archant)