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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: 2026 January 6 Á Jupiters Clouds in High Definition from Juno
- APOD: 2025 December 30 Á An Artificial Comet
- APOD: 2025 December 22 Á Sunset Solstice over Stonehenge
- APOD: 2025 October 15 Á Rocket Launch Plume over Tucson
- APOD: 2025 October 12 Á All the Water on Europa
- APOD: 2025 October 2 Á Pluto at Night
- APOD: 2025 December 8 Á Flying Over the Earth at Night