| Revision as of 05:17, 1 July 2003 edit24.210.228.99 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:13, 19 July 2003 edit undoPatrick (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Administrators68,586 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''Night''' is the ] when a location is facing away from the ], and thus dark. On ], it is night on just under half the planet at any time. (The atmosphere refracts sunlight in such a way that some of it reaches the ground even when the sun is below the ].) |
'''Night''' is the ] when a location is facing away from the ], and thus dark. On ], it is night on just under half the planet at any time. (The atmosphere refracts sunlight in such a way that some of it reaches the ground even when the sun is below the ].) When it is night on one side of the planet, it is ] on the other side. Because of the rotation of Earth about its axis it is alternately day and night, together 24 hours, with long days in summer and long nights in winter. This does not apply near the poles. On the poles the period is one year due to the rotation of the earth about the sun. Near the poles there is every year one very long "day", one ery long "night", and the rest year one day and night every 24 hours, though during the summer part of that with long days and during the winter part with long nights, | ||
| Throughout most of history, night was primarily a time of rest, because little work can be done in the dark. As ] has improved, night-time activity has increased and become a significant part of the economy in many places. | Throughout most of history, night was primarily a time of rest, because little work can be done in the dark. As ] has improved, night-time activity has increased and become a significant part of the economy in many places. | ||
Revision as of 21:13, 19 July 2003
Night is the time when a location is facing away from the Sun, and thus dark. On Earth, it is night on just under half the planet at any time. (The atmosphere refracts sunlight in such a way that some of it reaches the ground even when the sun is below the horizon.) When it is night on one side of the planet, it is day on the other side. Because of the rotation of Earth about its axis it is alternately day and night, together 24 hours, with long days in summer and long nights in winter. This does not apply near the poles. On the poles the period is one year due to the rotation of the earth about the sun. Near the poles there is every year one very long "day", one ery long "night", and the rest year one day and night every 24 hours, though during the summer part of that with long days and during the winter part with long nights,
Throughout most of history, night was primarily a time of rest, because little work can be done in the dark. As artificial lighting has improved, night-time activity has increased and become a significant part of the economy in many places.
Even without artificial light, moonlight sometimes makes it possible to travel or work outdoors at night.
Night is often associated with danger, because bandits and dangerous animals can be concealed by darkness. The belief in magic often includes the idea that magic, or magicians, are more powerful at night. Similarly, vampires and werewolves are associated with night.