The Powder Toy

Earth's atmosphere GLOWS IN THE DARK! by zxaaw

zxaaw
zxaaw
12 / 3
12th Mar 2017
12th Mar 2017
It really does. In the daytime, high altitude oxygen, nitrogen and sodium atoms/molecules get bombarded by radiation. At night, they recombine and release light, called "airglow". But don't expect to see it at night - the sky needs to be really clear.
science radiation

Comments

  • Brandonta
    Brandonta     15th Nov 2020
    can I have your earth
  • Security-Drone
    Security-Drone     12th Mar 2017
    Thank you Verbruggen for the explanations. I need a touchup on chemiluminescence. I only know bioluminescence.
  • Verbruggen
    Verbruggen     12th Mar 2017
    see http://www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/airglow2.htm for a nicely organized summary
  • danieldan0
    danieldan0     12th Mar 2017
    aurora polaris?
  • Verbruggen
    Verbruggen     12th Mar 2017
    also, dissociation and recombination take place al the time. during the day its even less visible due to scattered sunlight
  • Verbruggen
    Verbruggen     12th Mar 2017
    green is because of atomic oxygen. yellow is also from a bit of ionized molecular oxygen, together with the sodium from the sodium layer. red is from molecular oxigen, molecular nitrogen and a bit of atomic hydrogen. also formation of nitric oxide (NO) and other reactions contribute through chemiluminescence