noctilucent

Definition

Shining brightly at night; specifically referring to luminous clouds in the upper atmosphere visible after sunset or before sunrise, made visible by reflected sunlight from above the horizon. These rare clouds appear silvery-blue or pearly white.

Example Usage

On clear summer evenings, noctilucent clouds create an ethereal glow in the sky.

Origin

From Latin 'nox' (night) and 'lucens' (shining), meaning 'shining at night.'

Fun Fact

Noctilucent clouds form at altitudes of 76-85 kilometers, making them the highest clouds in Earth's atmosphere, and their increased frequency may be linked to climate change.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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