: light that is observed especially during the night, that originates in the high atmosphere of a planet (such as the earth), and that is associated with photochemical reactions of gases caused by solar radiation
Examples of airglow in a Sentence
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Using this device, as well as other modern camera equipment, Pettit and other astronauts have been able to take amazing low-light photographs recently, imaging city lights, auroras, airglow, and the stars of our surrounding galaxy.
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Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
In the photo from the space station, the comet is captured just above Earth’s horizon, which is illuminated by a bright light — also known as airglow — that occurs in the planet’s upper atmosphere when atoms and molecules emit light after being excited by sunlight.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025
The atmospheric glow, or airglow, captured in the new photo occurs when sunlight interacts with atoms and molecules within Earth's atmosphere.
—Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Both processes contribute to what’s known as airglow, which, for example, shows up in photographs from orbit as arcs of color above the horizon.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2024
Processes in the ionosphere can create bright swaths of color in the sky, known as airglow, as seen here from the International Space Station.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Aug. 2024
This is, in fact, a phenomenon known as airglow.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Dec. 2019
Alex took the original astronaut pictures and enhanced them somewhat to bring out the faint airglow.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2012
There is also a glowing halo of oxygen in the planet's atmosphere called airglow, a type of light that also exists in Earth's atmosphere.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 10 Feb. 2022
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Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025
In the photo from the space station, the comet is captured just above Earth’s horizon, which is illuminated by a bright light — also known as airglow — that occurs in the planet’s upper atmosphere when atoms and molecules emit light after being excited by sunlight.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025
The atmospheric glow, or airglow, captured in the new photo occurs when sunlight interacts with atoms and molecules within Earth's atmosphere.
—Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Both processes contribute to what’s known as airglow, which, for example, shows up in photographs from orbit as arcs of color above the horizon.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2024
Processes in the ionosphere can create bright swaths of color in the sky, known as airglow, as seen here from the International Space Station.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Aug. 2024
This is, in fact, a phenomenon known as airglow.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 24 Dec. 2019
Alex took the original astronaut pictures and enhanced them somewhat to bring out the faint airglow.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2012
There is also a glowing halo of oxygen in the planet's atmosphere called airglow, a type of light that also exists in Earth's atmosphere.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 10 Feb. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near airglow
Cite this Entry
“Airglow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airglow. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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