Just Another Sunset...

Last weekend during the astronomy expo we had some pesky clouds, just bad enough to play havoc with the solar viewing at the convention center.  As seems to be standard in the south-central part of the state, particularly during the long-past Summer monsoon season, the clouds don't extend very far west.  As a result, we get another "chamber of commerce" sunset with the setting sun illuminating the clouds from below.

I suspect it is the clarity of the skies that provides such pure colors as typically the sun hanging on the horizon is still too bright to look at directly.  So a few minutes later when it sinks below the viewer's  horizon, it still brilliantly illuminates the cloud bottoms with oranges and reds. 

I was in the process of doing evening cat chores, feeding our various feline populations when I was inspired to grab the camera and head out to the cul-de-sac to document it.  I often miss them during the few minutes they are on display, but I was glad to get this one.  These were taken about a minute apart, the one on the right zoomed in about the maximum amount on the 17-85mm lens, the left version nearly zoomed out the full amount.  May we all enjoy such colorful introductions to the evening!