Night or nighttime is the period of time between the sunset and the sunrise when the Sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day (or "daytime" to distinguish it from "day" as used for a 24-hour period). The start and end points of time of a night vary based on factors such as season, latitude, longitude and timezone.

At any given time, one side of the planet Earth is bathed in light from the Sun (the daytime) and the other side of the Earth is in the shadow caused by the Earth blocking the light of the sun. This shadow is what we call the darkness of night. Natural illumination is still provided by a combination of moonlight, planetary light, starlight, diffuse zodiacal light, gegenschein, and airglow. In some circumstances, bioluminescence, aurorae and lightning can provide some illumination. The glow provided by artificial illumination is sometimes referred to as light pollution because it can interfere with observational astronomy and ecosystems.

Duration and geography

Nights are shorter than days on average due to two factors. Firstly, the sun is not a point, but has an apparent size of about 32 arc minutes. Secondly, the atmosphere refracts sunlight so that some of it reaches the ground when the sun is below the horizon by about 34 arc minutes. The combination of these two factors means that light reaches the ground when the center of the sun is below the horizon by about 50 arc minutes. Without these effects, day and night would be the same length at the autumnal (autumn/fall) and vernal (spring) equinoxes, the moments when the sun passes over the equator. In reality, around the equinoxes the day is almost 14 minutes longer than the night at the equator, and even more towards the poles. The summer and winter solstices mark the shortest and the longest night, respectively. The closer a location is to either the North Pole or the South Pole, the larger the range of variation in the night's length. Although equinoxes occur with a day and night close to equal length, before and after an equinox the ratio of night to day changes more rapidly in high latitude locations than in low latitude locations. In the Northern Hemisphere, Denmark has shorter nights in June than India has. In the Southern Hemisphere, Antarctica has longer nights in June than Chile has. The Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the world experience the same patterns of night length at the same latitudes, but the cycles are 6 months apart so that one hemisphere experiences long nights (winter) while the other is experiencing short nights (summer).

Between the pole and the polar circle, the variation in daylight hours is so extreme that for a portion of the summer, there is no longer an intervening night between consecutive days and in the winter there is a period that there is no intervening day between consecutive nights.

On other celestial bodies

The phenomenon of day and night is due to the rotation of a celestial body about its axis, creating the illusion of the sun rising and setting. Different bodies spin at very different rates, however. Some may spin much faster than Earth, while others spin extremely slowly, leading to very long days and nights. The planet Venus rotates once every 224.7 days – by far the slowest rotation period of any of the major planets. In contrast, the gas giant Jupiter's sidereal day is only 9 hours and 56 minutes. A planet may experience large temperature variations between day and night, such as Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. This is one consideration in terms of planetary habitability or the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Impact on life

The disappearance of sunlight, the primary energy source for life on Earth, has dramatic impacts on the morphology, physiology and behavior of almost every organism. Some animals sleep during the night, while other nocturnal animals including moths and crickets are active during this time. The effects of day and night are not seen in the animal kingdom alone; plants have also evolved adaptations to cope best with the lack of sunlight during this time. For example, crassulacean acid metabolism is a unique type of carbon fixation which allows photosynthetic plants to store carbon dioxide in their tissues as organic acids during the night, which can then be used during the day to synthesize carbohydrates. This allows them to keep their stomata closed during the daytime, preventing transpiration of precious water.

As artificial lighting has improved, especially after the Industrial Revolution, night time activity has increased and become a significant part of the economy in most places. Many establishments, such as nightclubs, bars, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, gas stations, distribution facilities, and police stations now operate 24 hours a day or stay open as late as 1 or 2 a.m. Even without artificial light, moon light sometimes makes it possible to travel or work outdoors at night.

Cultural aspects

Night is often associated with danger and evil, because of the psychological connection of night's all-encompassing darkness to the fear of the unknown and darkness's obstruction of a major sensory system (the sense of sight). Humans are and have been daylight creatures for at least several million of years, and nighttime is naturally associated with the vulnerability and danger for human physical survival. Criminals, animals, and other potential dangers can be concealed by darkness. Midnight has a particular importance in human imagination and culture.

The belief in magic often includes the idea that magic and magicians are more powerful at night. Seances of spiritualism are usually conducted closer to midnight. Similarly, mythical and folkloric creatures as vampires and werewolves are described as being more active at night. Ghosts are believed to wander around almost exclusively during night-time. In almost all cultures, there exist stories and legends warning of the dangers of night-time. In fact, the Saxons called the darkness of night the 'death mist'.

In literature, night and the lack of light are often color-associated with blackness which is historically symbolic in many cultures for villainy, non-existence, or a lack of knowledge (with the knowledge usually symbolized by light or illumination).

See also

Black Sun (mythology)

Earth clock

Earth's shadow

Light pollution

Midnight

Night Aviation Regulations

Night sky

Nightlife

Nocturne

Olbers' paradox

References

Category:Time in astronomy Category:Parts of a day Category:Article Feedback 5

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name	Miranda Hart
birthname	Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke
birth date	December 14, 1972
birth place	Torquay, Devon, England
occupation	Comedienne, writer, actress
influences	Morecambe and Wise
othername	Miranda
website	mirandahart.com
parents	David Hart DykeDiana Margaret Luce
relatives	Tom Hart (cousin)The Rt Hon Lord Luce (uncle)Sir William Luce (grandfather)
television	''Hyperdrive''''Monday Monday''''Not Going Out''''Miranda''''Call the Midwife''
nationality	British
alma mater	}}

Miranda Katharine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972), known professionally as Miranda Hart, is an English actress, writer and stand-up comedienne. She writes and stars in the BBC sitcom ''Miranda''. She also appeared in ''French and Saunders'', the BBC television series ''Hyperdrive'' and her semi-autobiographical sitcom ''Miranda Hart's Joke Shop'' on BBC Radio 2. In 2012, she began appearing in the BBC drama ''Call the Midwife'' as Chummy Browne.

Early life

Born in Torquay, Devon, to Royal Navy officer David Hart Dyke and Diana Margaret Luce, Hart grew up in Petersfield, Hampshire. She was educated at Downe House, Berkshire, an independent girls' boarding school, where she was a contemporary and friend of the sports presenter Clare Balding, who was head girl. She graduated with a 2:1 degree in political science at the University of the West of England, followed by training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Despite studying politics, she always wanted to be a comedienne. In 2002, she did a solo show in Edinburgh, and in 2004 she pitched a comedy show to the BBC. At her read-through for BBC executives, Jennifer Saunders was there, laughing throughout.

While appearing on ''Frank Skinner's Opinionated'' in 2010, she stated that she was from an upper-class background, but hated saying that and did not consider herself upper-class. She added that her family tree has been traced back to the 12th century, and that her aunt and uncle live in a castle that they cannot afford to run.

Live performance

Avoiding the normal stand-up circuit for more character-based comedy, including an appearance in the Edinburgh and touring show ''The Sitcom Trials'', Hart has written her own theatre material for the Edinburgh Fringe. Her one-woman shows include ''Miranda Hart – Throbs'', ''It's All About Me'' and ''Miranda Hart's House Party''. She also performed in Alecky Blythe's 2006 play ''Cruising'' at the Bush Theatre. In 2010 she and six other TV celebrities raised over £1 million for the charity Sport Relief by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End. Miranda also presented part of Sport Relief 2012 which ended in her and David Walliams dancing semi naked to Abba's ''Dancing Queen''.

Television and film

Hart starred as Teal in two series of the BBC television comedy sci-fi series ''Hyperdrive'', which ran from January 2006 to August 2007. She has also appeared in ''French & Saunders'', ''My Family and Other Animals'', ''Nighty Night'', ''Absolutely Fabulous'', ''The Vicar of Dibley'', ''Lead Balloon'', ''William and Mary'', ''Smack the Pony'' (for which she wrote and performed in a couple of sketches and a number of video diaries), ''Not Going Out'' and ''Stupid!'' She appeared in the third series of ''Comic Relief does Fame Academy'' in 2007, and became the second contestant to be voted off the show. In 2009, she appeared in the last ever sketch from ''French and Saunders'', also in aid of Comic Relief.

Hart appeared in a short film by Tim Plester ''World of Wrestling'' in which she played Klondyke Kate, a wrestler billed as 'hell in boots'. The film was released in late 2007 alongside its companion shorts ''Blakes Junction 7'' and ''Ant Muzak''.

In 2006, she appeared in an episode of ''Not Going Out'' as an acupuncturist. Her performance impressed the producers so much that they wrote a regular role for her in the next series as clumsy cleaner Barbara; a part she continued to play until 2009. However, due to a busy filming schedule, the character did not return for the fourth series, aired in 2011.

In 2007 Miranda played the part of Shelley a Min Cab Driver in Channel 5 Comedy Angelos which ran for 6 episodes

In 2008, she recorded the pilot episode of ''Miranda'' for BBC Two. The sitcom is based on her semi-autobiographical writing which went on to become a radio series, ''Miranda Hart's Joke Shop'' on BBC Radio 2. On 9 November 2009 ''Miranda'', nominated "one of the top 10 forthcoming TV shows for Autumn 2009" by ''The Sunday Times'', began transmission on BBC Two. She appeared as guest host of ''Have I Got News for You'' in October 2009, and again in December 2011. She also presented a BBC spoof programme looking back over 2009 called ''2009 Unwrapped with Miranda Hart''. A similar show looking back over 2010 was also broadcast in December 2010.

She has also appeared twice on ''Strictly Come Dancing:It Takes Two''. She is a fan of the series ''Strictly Come Dancing''.

Miranda Hart has appeared in the TV series ''Monday Monday'' starring Fay Ripley: Miranda played the role of "Tall Karen". She appeared in a T.V. advert for Alpen.

In the final quarter of 2009, Heather Small's back catalogue sales increased by 73% as a result of frequent references to her hit single "Proud" in ''Miranda'.

In 2010 she appeared in the final of ''Old Dears Club'' as snooty receptionist Beverly Gates.

The second series of ''Miranda'' began on BBC2 in November 2010. The series ended with a viewing high of 4.1m and has been re-commissioned by the BBC for another two series to air in 2011 and 2012. Hart was described in the ''FT'' as "the most original and farcically hilarious female clown since Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders". In February 2011 the BBC announced that the sitcom would move to BBC One for its third series. The first two series of ''Miranda'' were repeated on BBC One in Summer 2011.

A ''Miranda'' mini-episode set in the world of ''Pineapple Dance Studios'' was filmed and broadcast on 18 March as part of Comic Relief. Miranda Hart also took part in a Red Nose Day edition of MasterChef, which she won. Also for Comic Relief 2011, Hart starred as a judge for the finale of ''Let's Dance for Comic Relief'', alongside Rufus Hound and Louie Spence. She also gave a signed Miranda script to be auctioned in aid of Comic Relief. On Boxing Day 2011, she appeared in an episode of Bear Grylls' Wild Weekend. The following day, 27 December, she was a team member on ''Big Fat Quiz 2011'', a quiz about the events of that year presented by Jimmy Carr, appearing alongside David Walliams (team blue). The other two teams being David Mitchell and Eddie Izzard (team purple) and Jonathan Ross and Jamie Oliver (team red).

Hart has appeared as a guest panelist on series two and series three of the BBC fundraising show Let's Dance for Comic Relief in 2010 and 2011. She has appeared alongside other guest judges including Louie Spence and Kelly Brook.

In 2012, Hart began to appear in the BBC One drama, ''Call the Midwife''., playing the character of Camilla 'Chummy' Fortescue-Cholmeley-Browne

Awards

In 2010 she won the Best Comedy Performance award from the Royal Television Society for her performance in ''Miranda'', and was also nominated for best comedy writing. She and Patricia Hodge were both nominated for "Best Comedy Actress" awards at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival 2010.

In 2011 she won "Best Comedy Actress" and "People’s Choice Award For The King Or Queen Of Comedy" in the British Comedy Awards 2011, where ''Miranda'' also won "Best New British TV Comedy" and was nominated for "Best Sitcom"

In 2011 she was nominated for a BAFTA for Best actress in a comedy role and her hit BBC Two sitcom ''Miranda'' was nominated for the Bafta YouTube choice award, the only award voted for by the public.

Radio

Her semi-autobiographical series ''Miranda Hart's Joke Shop'' was aired on BBC Radio 2 in 2008, and went on from there to be developed into the television series ''Miranda''. Hart has also presented comedy specials for the network alongside Jon Holmes. In October 2011 she attracted criticism after co-hosting the ''Chris Evans Breakfast Show'' with Holmes while Chris Evans was on holiday. The website ''Digital Spy'' reported that some listeners were unhappy with the quality of the programme. The BBC issued a statement in response saying, "Miranda Hart is one of the UK's best-loved comedians and BBC Radio 2 felt it appropriate to bring her warmth to its audience for a week. Jon Holmes is a highly experienced presenter from BBC Radio 6 Music [...] BBC Radio 2 appreciates if their presentation wasn't to everyone's liking, but feels it's important to be able to bring new talent to its output and hopes its audience understands the importance of maintaining a breadth of content on the network."

Personal life and family

Hart's father is retired Royal Navy officer Captain David Hart Dyke CBE LVO RN who was commanding officer of ''HMS Coventry'' when it was sunk by the Argentinians in the 1982 Falklands conflict, as a result of which he was badly burned trying to escape the stricken warship. His later career saw him serving as Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II, 1988-9. He retired from active naval service in 1990 with the rank of Captain (OF-5). He used his transcripts to write a book chronicling the events surrounding ''Coventry'''s sinking. The work, published in 2007, is titled ''Four Weeks in May: The Loss of HMS Coventry A Captain's Story''. The book formed the basis for BBC2 documentary, Sea of Fire, first shown on BBC2 on 1 June 2007.

Her mother is Diana Margaret Hart Dyke née Luce, the daughter of Sir William Luce GBE KCMG OBE (1907–1977), who was the British Governor and Commander in Chief of Aden, 1956-60.

Hart's uncle is The Rt Hon Lord Luce KG GCVO PC DL, a former Conservative MP and minister, who has since been HM Governor and Commander in Chief of Gibraltar (1997–2000) and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household, 2000-2006.

On her mother's side, her great-grandfather was Vice Admiral Sir Trevylyan Napier KCB MVO, who was the Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station (1919–1920), while her great-great-grandfather was Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd Baronet, who was the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom (1901–1920).

Her great-uncle and the brother of her maternal grandfather was Admiral Sir David Luce GCB DSO & Bar OBE, who served as First Sea Lord.

Her great-great-uncle was Major-General Sir Richard Harman Luce KCMG CB, who served as Member of Parliament for Derby from 1924-1929.

Hart's 1st cousin is modern-day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke.

Hart has a sister, Alice Louisa Hart Dyke (born 1975).

In her early twenties, Hart had an unsuccessful trial at Queens Park Rangers Ladies. This, she revealed during "Would I Lie to You"

References

External links

Miranda Hart's official website

Miranda Hart on Twitter

Miranda Hart's agent

Miranda Hart interview recorded at BAFTA London – June 2011

Category:1972 births Category:21st-century actors Category:21st-century women writers Category:Alumni of the University of the West of England Category:People educated at Downe House School Category:English comedians Category:English film actors Category:English television actors Category:English television producers Category:English television writers Category:Fame Academy participants Category:Living people Category:People from Torquay Category:English women comedians

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