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Credit & Copyright: Pekka Parviainen
(Polar Image)
Explanation:
Sometimes it's night on the ground but day in the air.
As the Earth rotates to eclipse the Sun,
sunset rises up from the ground.
Therefore, at sunset on the ground,
sunlight still shines on clouds above.
Under usual circumstances, a
pretty sunset
might be visible, but unusual
noctilucent clouds float so high up they
can be seen well after dark.
Pictured above, a network of
noctilucent clouds casts a colorful but eerie glow
visible above the dark.
Although
noctilucent clouds are thought to be composed of
small ice-coated particles,
much remains unknown about them.
Recent evidence indicates that at least some
noctilucent clouds result from freezing water exhaust from
Space Shuttles.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Earth - atmosphere - clouds - noctilucent clouds - sunset
Publications with words: Earth - atmosphere - clouds - noctilucent clouds - sunset
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 29 Á Methane Bubbles Frozen in Lake Baikal
- Interplanetary Earth
- Earthset from Orion
- APOD: 2024 November 19 Á Undulatus Clouds over Las Campanas Observatory
- APOD: 2024 October 28 Á STEVE: A Glowing River over France
- Glory and Fog Bow
- APOD: 2024 July 9 Á Noctilucent Clouds over Florida