The Mystery Behind Bright Nights
For centuries, humans have been experiencing a phenomenon known as bright nights. Throughout history, many have described seeing what should have been a typical night sky being filled with a soft glow. This glowing sky was reportedly bright enough to even read a book under. This phenomenon is now rarer, as light pollution and artificial light cause this bright sky to be overshadowed. That being said, it still occurs and only recently have we discovered the cause.
Scientists have pinned the source of these lights to something called airglow. Airglow is the result of UV rays from the sun splitting oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. In most cases, the photochemical reaction that occurs in the atmosphere will not be visible to humans but occasionally, it will be strong enough to produce a slightly green tint in the air. This tint is bright enough to dimly light the sky without aid from the moon or urban lights. Although reports of bright nights have been around since Ancient Rome, it is still one of the most interesting events one could ever witness.
Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/28/bright-nights-scientists-explain
