The beauty of the sunrises and sunsets in Arizona is unlike anywhere else I’ve lived. When I first moved back to Phoenix, I was surprised that I hadn’t remembered just how breathtaking the Arizona sunsets and sunrises can be.

The colors of the skies here are just unreal. The purples, oranges, reds, yellows and pinks — many days, the sky looks as though it has been painted in watercolors, with subtle periwinkles and mauves. Other days, the sky is so vibrant, I just stop and stare for the few minutes as the firey sky fades away. The other day, Rocco said “mommy, mommy, look at the sky,” I entered the playroom and understood immediately why the sky had caught his attention. The playroom was drenched in fervid red light.

I spoke with a friend about why Arizona sunsets and sunrises are so gorgeous, and she said it was because of the pollution. Doing some research, I actually found it is more likely the dust and particles in the air that filter out the blue light spectrum, leaving the reds and oranges behind.

This article helped to explain why Arizona sunsets are so beautiful. It’s a combination of the particles in the air, and the light bouncing off the high clouds that makes the Arizona sky so gorgeous.

There are several mornings on my way to work when I will pull over to the side of the road to capture a sunrise picture. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I post sunrise and sunset pictures a lot. I’m a sucker for the beauty of these Arizona skies.

If you get the chance to visit Phoenix or Arizona, you must make the time to take in the sunrises and sunsets here. If you’re in Phoenix, here are the 15 best places to watch sunsets.