What is the required minimum distance below clouds for VFR flight at night outside controlled airspace at altitudes greater than 1200 ft AGL but less than 10000 ft MSL?

In aviation regulations, when flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at night outside controlled airspace and at altitudes greater than 1200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) but less than 10,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), the required minimum distance below clouds is set at 500 feet. This regulation is in place to ensure that pilots maintain a safe separation from clouds, thereby improving visibility and enhancing safety by minimizing the risk of unintended incursions into cloud cover, which could lead to spatial disorientation.

This requirement reflects the necessary precautions night flying necessitates due to reduced visibility compared to daytime flying, thus demanding stricter separation from cloud layers. Moreover, it aids pilots in maintaining their visual reference to the ground, which is particularly critical during night operations when distinguishing between terrain and obstacles can become more challenging.