Why does the night sky over Chile glow with mysterious green and red light?

Deep in the Atacama Desert, the night sky at the La Silla Observatory is not as dark as it should be. This video investigates the origins of the shimmering green and red airglow that appears on moonless nights and explores why these phenomena seem to be increasing in frequency.

The phenomenon known as airglow creates faint, shimmering colors in the night sky, even in locations like the Atacama Desert where the environment is expected to be exceptionally dark. This atmospheric effect manifests as distinct green and red hues that can be observed during moonless conditions.

The video examines the underlying causes of this light and addresses the observation that these glows appear to be occurring more frequently. By analyzing the atmospheric processes at play, the production provides insight into why the night sky retains this subtle luminescence.

Source: ESOcast 78: Airglow