aftenskær

Aftenskær is a Danish term meaning the evening glow or afterglow, referring to the light of the sky after the sun has set. The word is built from aften, meaning evening, and skær, meaning glow or shine. In Danish usage, it evokes the soft, lingering illumination that characterizes twilight.

The phenomenon occurs when sunlight is still scattered in Earth’s atmosphere after the sun is below the horizon. Residual rays can paint the lower sky with pinks, oranges, and purples, while the upper atmosphere shifts toward cooler blues. The intensity and colors of aftenskær depend on atmospheric conditions such as dust, moisture, and air clarity, and on the observer’s horizon and light pollution. The effect can persist for several minutes or longer, especially on clear evenings with minimal artificial lighting.

Aftenskær is commonly referenced in Danish photography, poetry, and popular descriptions of the daily sunset ritual. In scientific contexts, it overlaps with broader notions of twilight and afterglow, though the term often carries a distinctly poetic or atmospheric connotation in everyday language.

See also: twilight, afterglow, blue hour. Etymology: from aften (evening) and skær (glow/light).