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Credit & Copyright: Christoph Rollwagen
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 week, a network of
noctilucent
clouds cast an eerie white glow after dusk, beyond a local field near
Potsdam,
Germany.
Although
noctilucent clouds are thought to be composed of
small ice-coated particles,
much remains unknown about them.
Satellites launched to help study these clouds includes Sweden's
Odin and NASA's
AIM.
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: sunset
Publications with words: sunset
See also: