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Observing
tips: Look
west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset
when the Sun has dipped 6o to 16o below
the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading
across the sky, you've probably spotted a noctilucent
cloud. Although
noctilucent clouds appear most often at arctic latitudes,
they have been sighted
in recent years as far south as Colorado, Utah and Virginia.
NLCs are seasonal, appearing most often in late spring and
summer. In the northern hemisphere, the best time to look
would be between mid-May and the end of August. See
also 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006,
2007, 2008,
and 2009 |
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Photographer,
Location |
Images |
Comments |
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Brian Whittaker,
33,000 feet over Denver, Colorado
Jul. 2, 2011 |
#1,
#2,
#3,
more |
On my way up north to hopefully see Noctilucent Clouds, I was amazed to see them just after sunset from 37 degrees north latitude over the USA! I managed to take a few snaps showing Denver below with Noctilucent Clouds to the north from 33,000 feet. Later, I got Venus rising with Noctilucent Clouds from eastern Canada.
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Doug Zubenel,
De Soto, Kansas, USA.
Jul. 2, 2011 |
#1,
#2,
#3 |
After seeing the spectacularly brilliant NLC images on SW from the northern US last night, I stepped outside this evening and what I saw sent me running inside for the camera. These three images were made between 9:56 and 9:59 pm, CDT, with the sun 11.2 to 11.7 degrees below the NW horizon - directly below the brightest area of the NLC's. 10 second exposures with a 24mm lens @ f/2.8 at ISO 400.
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Marek Nikodem,
Szubin, Poland Jul. 10, 2011 |
#1,
#2,
#3,
#4,
more |
NLC storm above Poland. Today morning most spectacular show I've ever observed of NLCs. It was very very great complex NLC.It’s the absolutely best NLC display of this season. The display was over 180 degrees wide, over 100 degrees high. There was unreliable and fantastic show. Nikon D 700/ Nikkor 24-70, exp 2-6 sec
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Martin McKenna,
Dunluce Castle, Co. Antrim (North Coast), N. Ireland Jul. 9, 2011 |
#1,
#2,
#3,
#4,
more |
Hi Tony
Absoutely stunning NLC display tonight which my girlfriend and I watched in amazement over the Atlantic Ocean with the shadow-casting type 5 brightness display above the infamous ruins of Dunluce Castle on the Co. Antrim coast of N. Ireland. The colours and structures were phenomenal with striking herringbone, bands, waves, whirls and skeletal type forms. We could see the electric blue colour refecting on the oceam itself. Best NLC display I have seen since 2009!! - what a night!!
Canon 450D 18-55mm lens, ISO400, various settings
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Alan Dyer,
near Gleichen, Alberta, Canada Jul. 6, 2011 |
#1,
more |
Clouds aren’t usually the astronomer’s friend, but at this time of year they become the objects of our attention. For the past few nights, my Alberta prairie skies have been beautifully clear and filled with the clouds of solstice.
Last night, July 6, began at twilight with the best display of noctilucent clouds so far this season — and we’re now at peak season for this northern sky phenomenon. This was the scene at about 11:30 pm local time, with the wispy high-altitude clouds at their most extensive and fully lit by sunlight. Over the next hour or so, as the Sun set further below the horizon, the display disappeared as darkness came to the high atmosphere and the Sun no longer illuminated these clouds suspended over the Arctic.
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Mikael Johannesen,
Hvidovre, Denmark Jul. 10, 2011 |
#1,
more |
Best NLC of the year so far. I was out at 3am and saw this wonderful show.
It's a panoramic of 5 images put together by Photoshop Elements 9 panorama function.
EOS 500D, EF-S 18-55mm @ 18mm F4.5, ISO 200, 2 second exposures.
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Benjamin Lawlor,
Dublin, Ireland Jul. 2, 2011 |
#1,
more |
I took these photos on Sunday morning (July 3rd @ 3.30am IST) from Dublin City Centre. I was on my way home at about 2.30am and saw these clouds to the north, I wasted no time grabbing my gear and heading down to the quays to try and get some photos with some familiar Dublin landmarks such as the new Convention Centre, Dublin and the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
This is certainly the most impressive display of Noctilucent Clouds I've seen in the capital. I was also amazed to see such structure in the clouds. I could clearly see ripples forming and a ropey texture throughout the display. Considering the problem of light pollution in Dublin, this really surprised me. All the detail was visible with the naked eye and I even got some nice photos using nothing more than my camera phone.
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more
images: from
Ivo Dinsbergs of Riga, Latvia; from
Adrian Maricic of Lcoh Leven, Fife, Scotland; from
Peter Sherman of Fochabers, Moray, Scotland ; from
Nina Smrekar of Krim, Slovenia; from
Vincent Phillips of Hale village near Liverpool UK; from
Lars Melin of Sollentuna, Sweden
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