The overtone vibration-rotation band (Δv=-2) limb-emission from NO around 2.7 &mgr;m observed by the Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS-1A) at 120 km tangent altitude is shown to arise from the nascent molecule produced by the reactions of N(4S) and N(2D) atoms with O2. Measurement of the 2.7 &mgr;m emission from NO therefore permits modeling of the local rate of production of NO, a quantity important in odd nitrogen chemistry in the thermosphere. The 2.7 &mgr;m limb-radiance in the nonauroral region is observed, above the instrument noise level, only during the day and shows about a factor of 2 variation indicating a similar variation in the rate of production of NO. In the aurorally dosed region however the observations lead to about an order of magnitude variation in this rate. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union