Nights

Nights refer to the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise in a 24-hour day. The onset and duration of night vary with latitude and season, with longer nights in winter and shorter or nearly equal day and night around the equator. The word originated from Old English niht and is related to the same root found in other Germanic languages.

In daily life, nights are associated with rest and sleep for many people, but they also host a wide range of activities, including entertainment, transportation, and work that continues after dark. Artificial lighting has extended nighttime activity but can contribute to light pollution, which affects ecosystems and can disrupt human circadian rhythms and sleep.

Astronomically, nights reveal celestial objects such as stars, planets, the Moon, and the Milky Way, especially in areas with low light pollution. Nighttime phenomena include meteor showers and auroras, which occur more readily with clear, dark skies. The concept of the nightside also applies to planets and moons, referring to the hemisphere or face not illuminated by their primary star.

Historically, nights have influenced social organization, security, and culture, shaping practices like night watches, late trading hours, and various rituals or observances tied to darkness and sleep cycles.

Nights is a common title in music and literature, used for poems, songs, albums, and films to evoke themes of darkness, rest, mystery, or romance. See also night, nighttime, nocturnal.