This picture shows some of the features of the mesosphere. Earth's mesosphere extends from about 50 to 85 km (31 to 53 miles) above our planet. The stratosphere is the atmospheric layer below it, while the thermosphere is above. The upper boundary of the mesosphere is the mesopause, while its lower boundary is the stratopause. Most meteors vaporize in this layer, a type of lightning called sprites sometimes appears in the mesosphere above thunderstorms, and ultra-high noctilucent clouds sometimes form in the mesosphere near Earth's poles. Sounding rockets are used to measure this layer directly, since balloons cannot fly high enough nor satellites orbit low enough to sample the mesosphere. The coldest temperatures in the atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found near the top of this layer. Temperatures decrease with height throughout the mesosphere.
Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

This picture explains about the mesosphere. The mesosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. It starts about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground and goes all the way up to 85 km (53 miles) high. The layer below it is called the stratosphere. The layer above it is the thermosphere. The border between the mesosphere and the thermosphere is called the mesopause. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. A type of lightning called sprites sometimes appears in the mesosphere above thunderstorms. Strange, high-altitude clouds called noctilucent clouds sometimes form in this layer near the North and South Poles. It is not easy to study the mesosphere directly. Weather balloons can't fly high enough and satellites can't orbit low enough. Scientists use sounding rockets to study the mesosphere. The top of the mesosphere is the coldest part of the atmosphere. It can get down to -90° C (-130° F) there! As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder.
Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

This picture explains about the mesosphere. The mesosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. It starts about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground and goes all the way up to 85 km (53 miles) high. The layer below it is called the stratosphere. The layer above it is the thermosphere. The border between the mesosphere and the thermosphere is called the mesopause. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. A type of lightning called sprites sometimes appears in the mesosphere above thunderstorms. Strange, high-altitude clouds called noctilucent clouds sometimes form in this layer near the North and South Poles. It is not easy to study the mesosphere directly. Weather balloons can't fly high enough and satellites can't orbit low enough. Scientists use sounding rockets to study the mesosphere. The top of the mesosphere is the coldest part of the atmosphere. It can get down to -90° C (-130° F) there! As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder.
Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

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