Canada to Blame for Hazy Sky, Red Sun and Moon in Chicago

If you happened to catch a glimpse of the sky early Tuesday, you might have noticed a red-hued sun and moon in a hazy sky. The National Weather Service reports that the milky sky was caused by smoke from forest fires in Canada—central and southern Saskatchewan, specifically.

Winds carried the smoke thousands of miles, where it settled in a layer over Chicago roughly 9,000 feet above the ground. The effect from the smoke can be compared to that of a volcanic eruption, when ash can be found thousands of miles from the site.

The red sun? That’s all a matter of light. The smoke caused certain wavelengths of light to scatter while others passed through—all painting the sun a red color.

Share your photos of Tuesday’s “red” sun and moon by emailing lemont@patch.com.