Spectrum of the Night Sky and of the Zodiacal Light

Abstract

IN a recent paper1, one of us has described the general nature of the spectrum of the night sky as observed in India, and pointed out that besides the green line 5577 A. originating in atomic oxygen, there are many other lines which have also to be considered as general characteristics of the spectrum of the night sky at all latitudes of the earth. As has been emphasised by Lord Rayleigh, this spectrum is quite distinct from that of the polar aurora ; the second negative bands of nitrogen (N2+) which are a conspicuous feature of the spectrum of the polar aurora, are absent or only very faintly present in the night sky spectrum.