Noctilucent Clouds

muckish

The NLC season has begun. For the past few nights, observers across northern Europe have spotted velvety, electric-blue tendrils rippling across the sunset sky. Haven't seen them yet but image is from Derry, c/o www.nightskyhunter.com www.spaceweather.com

Aiel

I always love these few weeks for the NLC season,seen some lovely ones in recent years,although sadly they dont come out great in any pics i take of them.

nacho libre

I remember often seeing these clouds in the early hours of the morning in years gone by, but had no idea what they were called until recently. By the way, why do they only occur during the Summer?

Lumi

nacho libre wrote: »

why do they only occur during the Summer?

They're not visible in daylight, only in twilight skies so the summer months of June and July, when the sun sits 6-16 degrees below the horizon provide the best opportunity for viewing them.

Actually, the coming weeks either side of the summer solstice are peak viewing time if the weather plays nice

Nice video from Aberdeen for those who haven't seen them

Lumi

This is a brilliant audio slideshow on Noctilucent Clouds from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10635796

The silver and blue waves on the edge of space that light up the night skies each summer....

lolie

Anyone still up? Look low on the horizon to the north. Looks very like noctilucent clouds. Also watch out for the ISS at 1.52, headin west to east.

Popoutman

I was out on Friday and Saturday nights in Limerick, and I could see no sign of nontilucent clouds when I went looking for them ~01.30-02.00.

Lumi

Popoutman wrote: »

I was out on Friday and Saturday nights in Limerick, and I could see no sign of nontilucent clouds when I went looking for them ~01.30-02.00.

This is a link to the Noctilucent Cloud Observers home page which has some really good advice on where to look and how to record your sightings.
It's often just a matter of timing but there are several weeks ahead yet when it will be possible to see them so hopefully you'll have better luck next time.:)

Latest sightings are reported here and here and they also have an early warning thread on their forum

This photo was taken in the west of Ireland on Sat 11th June

© Ronan Newman

lolie

Popoutman wrote: »

I was out on Friday and Saturday nights in Limerick, and I could see no sign of nontilucent clouds when I went looking for them ~01.30-02.00.

I had a look few other nights and seen nothing so its just a case of good weather and patience.

mickger844posts

Couple of weeks ago took this pic which i'm not sure are Noctilucent clouds. Maybe someone in the know will verify yes or no.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/dsc02882i.jpg/#

muckish

mickger844posts wrote: »

Couple of weeks ago took this pic which i'm not sure are Noctilucent clouds. Maybe someone in the know will verify yes or no.

No they're not NLC's. NLC's generally have an electric blue colour or white; and from your photo ( I may be mistaken on this) it looks a little bit too early in the evening to start observing them. Keep looking though.

Lumi

mickger844posts wrote: »

Couple of weeks ago took this pic which i'm not sure are Noctilucent clouds. Maybe someone in the know will verify yes or no.

They look like illuminated tropospheric clouds to me and not the noctilucent variety. Nice pic though

I've attached a PDF copy of the guide I use myself, you might find it useful as well.

The IAGA have very kindly made it available as a free download

lolie

Just had a look out and looks like noctilucent clouds in the sky lookin north. But not 100% sure if its them

Lumi

lolie wrote: »

Just had a look out and looks like noctilucent clouds in the sky lookin north. But not 100% sure if its them

I think you might be right, but unfortunately I'm further south there is a rotten bank of cloud obscuring my view of the lowest part of the northern horizon so I'm only getting a partial glimpse of whats going on.

There are reports of sightings coming in from Hungary tonight so if skies stay clear where you are you could get lucky!

lolie

Had another look out and i'd say it definitely is them, starting to fade a bit now though.

muckish

Just back in after a great nights viewing. Lunar eclipse, ISS flyby (another at 1.18am) and NLC. Yes there was a bank of NLC's tonight. So Lolie you did see them

Lumi

Thanks for the heads up earlier
I've been watching them for the last 45mins or so

muckish

Tonight over Letterkenny

Harps

Saw them earlier as well looking over the Atlantic on the north coast, lovely night with the full moon to the south as well

nacho libre

I saw them at around 1am. They weren't as good as previous years, though. Still there is plenty of time left yet to see a better display.

muckish

nacho libre wrote: »

I saw them at around 1am. They weren't as good as previous years, though. Still there is plenty of time left yet to see a better display.

Seen better as well, but still anything is more fascinating than nothing. The combination of the eclipse, ISS and the NLC's made for an overall very satisfactory night's viewing. As you say still plenty of time left for better NLC displays so fingers crossed.

Lumi

muckish wrote: »

The combination of the eclipse, ISS and the NLC's made for an overall very satisfactory night's viewing.

It was a great little celestial cocktail alright & thanks again to Lolie otherwise I would have missed last night's display and to yourself for the great pics

lolie

muckish get your camera out. Nice display of them out tonight, seem to have faded a bit though

muckish

Missed it last night Lolie. Might keep an eye out tonight if the skies remain cloud free. cheers. Must charge up the camera batteries just in case.

Mullaghteelin

Anyone else seeing the amazing display now? It will be getting light soon though

Im seeing them here in Lucan

Lumi

Caught snatches and glimpses of them until it completely clouded over around 1am. It sure was a fantastic display

muckish

fast asleep unfortunately. any photos?

Lumi

muckish wrote: »

fast asleep unfortunately. any photos?

Given the cloud cover situation over Galway last night I didn't get the best view but it was an amazing display from the short glimpses I did get.
I didn't get any photos worth sharing but there are some good images/time lapses from last night here

Su Campu

Some great images taken from Dublin last night here.

redsteveireland

Nice conditions tonight might get some viewing in later on.

Lumi

redsteveireland wrote: »

Nice conditions tonight might get some viewing in later on.

There's a faint display at the moment - going to head out of town & away from the lights to have a proper look in a mo

Iancar29

This staying up late is hard when being up at 8 this morning! ... Hope its worth it! ha

Hal1

There's a good display of them now. There fairly bright too. Spotted them again here:

muckish

A beautiful display last night around 1.30am, through the cloud cover.

Lumi

Stunning pics again Muckish - you captured them brilliantly

Have a look at this taken under clear skies in Fife last night - amazing !!

redsteveireland

Fionagus wrote: »

Stunning pics again Muckish - you captured them brilliantly

Have a look at this taken under clear skies in Fife last night - amazing !!

That's stunning! I think I'll have to knock out the rest of the streetlights in the estate to get a good view.

Iancar29

muckish wrote: »

A beautiful display last night around 1.30am, through the cloud cover.

Great pics pal.. is ther an exposure on those shots?

How is it bright at the time????

I tot ya only get to see them after sunset and b4 dawn no?.... confused

Couldnt see anything around here, mainly coz of the lights around i presume.

Lumi

Iancar29 wrote: »

Couldnt see anything around here

Sorry you missed them Ian
I posted a viewing guide a few pages back. You might find a few useful tips in there.
Theres still a few weeks to go in the season so better luck next time

Iancar29

Fionagus wrote: »

Sorry you missed them Ian
I posted a viewing guide a few pages back. You might find a few useful tips in there.
Theres still a few weeks to go in the season so better luck next time

Thanks, ill be trying again tonight

BEASTERLY

Saw them from wexford at about 2.30 last night. Really was a stunning display! Hoping for more of the same tonight.

Min

Bob Conway on TodayFM saw them last night, he didn't know what they were, I wouldn't have either except I do learn things on this forum, so I informed him they were noctilucent clouds and it was read out on the radio.

Iancar29

Min wrote: »

Bob Conway on TodayFM saw them last night, he didn't know what they were, I wouldn't have either except I do learn things on this forum, so I informed him they were noctilucent clouds and it was read out on the radio.

haha cool!, what time was that at?, id like to hear it back see what he was saying abouts them

Min

Iancar29 wrote: »

haha cool!, what time was that at?, id like to hear it back see what he was saying abouts them

Between 7:10am and 7:30am.

tricky D

Iancar29

Great shots Tricky!

What time was that at and where abouts?

Hal1

They are truly excellent shots :cool:.

tricky D

Cheers
2:50 ish this morning from Howth.

Was experimenting with lots of settings and wanted to get more shots without so much noise but the batteries died.

Hal1

My favourite is the 2nd pic. Lots of detail of when they were at their brightest. It's just a great pic :cool:.

muckish

Camera setting were iso 400, 2" exposure @ f4.0. Shot in RAW and exposure boosted a wee bit afterwards.

I have found recently that have been quite low on the horizon, so I couldn't see them from my back garden initially. I have a viewing point which is about 150m asl and has a good view to the north (use the same spot for aurora spotting). It's also dark and away from the town. So i'd recommend you get away from the urban lights and get up high. Though saying that looks like Howth had a great show last night. Great pics. Hopefully the night skies will clear tonight and there'll be another show.

The recommended time is 30-60 mins after sunset. I think this is very misleading as sunset here in Donegal is around 22:10, but they seem to be performing between 1-3am. The northern sky was still bright last night at 1.30am.

Harps

Saw them last night as well around 1.30am, best I've seen all summer so far