A day/night globe (also called “2-in-1 globe”, “illuminated globe”, or “day & night earth globe”) is a globe that has two modes:

• Day mode: The globe appears like a normal map of Earth — showing continents, countries, rivers, cities, etc.

• Night mode: Inside the globe is a light (LED or bulb). When switched on (or automatically in darkness), the globe lights up and shows a map of the Earth at night — with city lights, and sometimes constellations or stars superimposed.

Some models even have sensors so that they automatically switch to the night view when the lights go off.