Astronomy Picture of the Day

Noctilucent Clouds Over Sweden


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#91310 by @ 19.07.2006 00:00 - nach oben -
Noctilucent Clouds Over Sweden


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
last month, a network of
>noctilucent clouds cast a colorful but eerie glow after dusk near
Vallentuna,
Sweden.

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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