Emission of the NO γ(1,0) band at 2150 A has been observed by a rocket‐borne spectrophotometer in an IBC II+aurora. The v'=0 progression of the γ‐system does not appear in the spectrum. The observed emission rate of the 2150 A feature increases relative to N2+first negative band emission with increasing altitude. We suggest radiative recombination of NO+ions with electrons as a possible excitation mechanism compatible with the