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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/astro-visible-light-range

Roughly what wavelength range is visible light?

About 400 to 700 nanometers.

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  1. About 4 to 7 nanometers
  2. About 400 to 700 nanometers ✔
  3. About 4 to 7 millimeters

Why: Our eyes see waves from about 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). That band passes easily through the air, which is no coincidence: eyes evolved to use the light the Sun delivers best.

Huh, didn't know that: Visible light is only a tiny slice of the whole electromagnetic spectrum.

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Why did the photon skip the luggage check? It was traveling light.
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References

Answer: About 400 to 700 nanometers. Our eyes see waves from about 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). That band passes easily through the air, which is no coincidence: eyes evolved to use the light the Sun delivers best.

  1. OpenStax Astronomy 2e, 5.2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum openstax.org/books/astronomy-2e/pages/5-2-the-electromagnetic-spectrum
    Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between roughly 400 and 700 nm is called visible light
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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