Astronomy, Photography and Weather

General Category => Weather & Atmospherics => Topic started by: martinastro on April 24, 2009, 10:34:31 pm



Title: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on April 24, 2009, 10:34:31 pm
Does this go in the atmospherics or astronomy section?.

It's that time of year again to begin watching for Noctilucent Cloud displays for observers at mid northern latitudes. Experts predict, that with such a deep solar minimum, this season could be one of the very best in years. The season runs from May to August with the most intense displays occuring either side of the Summer Solstice. Monitor the post-sunset and pre-sunrise sky when the Sun is between 6 and 16 degrees below the horizon. Please add your images, visual reports, alerts, and NLC discussion to this thread so we can keep everything organized. Hopefully this will be a spectacular season...best of luck, and happy NLC hunting!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on April 25, 2009, 02:54:30 pm
Wow, starting so early  ;)

Experts predict, that with such a deep solar minimum, this season could be one of the very best in years.
Let's hope it will be like that  :)

The season runs from May to August
I think I'll start monitoring since mid-May, but more actively - closer to solstice

Does this go in the atmospherics or astronomy section?.
My opinion remain the same - atmospherics


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on April 25, 2009, 04:13:42 pm
Thanks Martin for starting this thread, but I think atmospherics is best!

Roman, I suggest you start monitoring when you want to, but both Martin and I have already started!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on April 25, 2009, 05:41:23 pm
Consider it done  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on April 30, 2009, 11:32:15 pm
Anybody see anything suspicious tonight between 22.40 and 23.00?.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on April 30, 2009, 11:42:17 pm
Well I was looking Martin, but didn't see anything worth a closer look, just twilight. I got several shots of Mercury, but couldn't pull M45 out of the twilight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 01, 2009, 12:20:32 am
Thanks for the feedback Paul. I couldn't pull M45 out either but I did take a shot of Mercury. Observed a marked enhancement to the twilight between 22.47 and 23.00 BST. 60 degrees in azimuth and 5 degrees high from the NW to N sky sectors far below Auriga, Perseus, Andromeda region. No structure evident but looked like a bright while glow similar to a type 2 brightness veil. Sky didn't look normal in comparison to when I seen it on the last good evening at the same time. The Moonlight concerned me however. Was just curious...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on May 01, 2009, 01:04:41 am
can't wait to see some of your guys' shots this summer!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 01, 2009, 01:10:15 am
Quote
Well I was looking Martin, but didn't see anything worth a closer look, just twilight.
Same here


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 01, 2009, 01:11:35 am
Martin, NLC's had crossed my mind when I was imaging Mercury and M45 but seen nothing obvious I'm afraid, just twilight. I expect we'll see some very soon thought. Keep the eyes peeled.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 01, 2009, 05:48:05 pm
Cheers for the confirmation everyone, if you guys didn't get it then it must have been a local effect caused by the weak moonlight, and maybe light fog.

With this being a deep solar minimum there could well be some early NLC displays just like 2008. Fingers crossed it won't be a long wait.

Tyler, we will be doing our best  :), the early displays are usually unimpressive, however once we get into June the big spectacles really come to the fore. I can't wait!  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on May 24, 2009, 09:55:22 am
The season has started here!  :D

Observed from Kharkov (50.0N, 36.2E) at 21:15-21:45 EEST (May.22)
I am 80% sure that those were type I noctilucent clouds...

21:20
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2v2bghu.jpg)

21:37
(http://i44.tinypic.com/2rgertj.jpg)

21:40
(http://i43.tinypic.com/vik95h.jpg)

P.S. Nothing was seen on next evening.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 26, 2009, 11:49:40 am
I awoke at 0320 BST this morning (26th May) when the oncoming dawn was making itself known. Conditions were excellent to the NE, however I believe that if there were any NLCs present I would have seen them, but there were none visible from my location.

Venus was fabulously bright, though very low to the SE.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 26, 2009, 01:22:20 pm
Quote
I believe that if there were any NLCs present I would have seen them, but there were none visible from my location.
Same here from when the sky cleared (around 2300 UT) till 0200 UT when it got too light to continue observing.

The twilight arc in the north clearly visible even at local midnight but no sign of any NLC.



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 26, 2009, 01:44:23 pm
Yip, last night's sky was awesome, clear from sunset until dawn, no NLC visible despite absolute perfect conditions. The first displays could appear on any night now.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 26, 2009, 05:52:49 pm
Same here, I went to bed at about 0345BST with the dawn breaking, saw not even a hint of them. I was though talking to my friend Ken Kennedy who is coordinator for western europe, and he told me that no NLC's had been reported so far from anywhere not even AIM, but one is expected any night now, so keep watch!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on May 26, 2009, 08:27:38 pm
A hour ago I observed a wonderful clear dusk with thin crescent Moon  :) ...no NLCs though.

The one I saw last Friday was wonderfully early display here (it might occured a day before too (May.21), but I'm much unsure). Unfortunately I am not able to regularly monitor sky for NLCs now, but will start in a two weeks or so.  :-\


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 27, 2009, 04:56:56 pm
Reporting another negative obsv from last night (26/27th) until midnight when cloud arrived ahead of the next frontal system.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 28, 2009, 12:38:16 pm
The first NLCs of the season have been captured by Peter Dalin from Russia on May 26/27th between 19.30-20.45 local time  and it was a nice banded structure also. Looks like the season has now begun, and in good style too. Interestingly the first half of that night was clear here and no NLCs were visible.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/e1c12u.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 28, 2009, 07:30:04 pm
Another NLC report, this time from Lithuania on May 27/28th. Keep watch tonight everyone!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 28, 2009, 07:38:24 pm
At last Martin some action, I was beginning to worry about this season!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 29, 2009, 09:48:23 am
May 28/9: Sky clear, NLC negative.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 29, 2009, 03:37:42 pm
Faint but structured NLC display observed from Scotland last night (May 28/29th) making this the first UK sighting. I thought I observed something at 23.50 BST far below Capella in the form of faint white bands but I couldn't get it confirmed. Unfortunately this high presssue is concerning me due to the amount of mist/fog and murky conditions which arrived after midnight destroying the sky for NLC observation. This could get even worse on the nights ahead  :-[..certainly won't be putting me off trying tonight though.

Thanks for the negative report Brian.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 29, 2009, 03:56:53 pm
I'll upload a photo I took last night when I get home. Nothing concrete but a bit of a glow close to the horizon east of where the Sun would be.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 29, 2009, 04:34:20 pm
I actually went to my vantage point with camera at the ready but I couldn't see anything that even looked like NLC. Sorry about not being able to confirm your obs Martin there just wasn't anything visible from here. I intended waiting for dawn but by 3am I couldn't even see the house far side of the street the fog was so thick. So I gave up and went to bed :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 29, 2009, 07:07:45 pm
Quote
I thought I observed something at 23.50 BST far below Capella in the form of faint white bands but I couldn't get it confirmed.
Well, it's possible then - I did note something similar in the NNW at around that time, basically one faint band parallel to the horizon, but it lacked the characteristic "electric blue" colouration - if pushed, I'd have called it yellowish - and, as there was some haze around, I took it for a haze layer being illuminated by the setting Moon.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 29, 2009, 07:35:48 pm
Here's that glow - taken 0009 BST - may just be fog and moonlight...

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlcmaybe090529.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 29, 2009, 08:16:45 pm
Your description Brian pretty much sums up what I seen here, although the bands were white in colour, I also put it down to haze or faint high level trop cloud, also weak moonlight may have produced that effect.

I can see that enhancement to the twilight on your image Paul. Maybe tonight will produce something...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 29, 2009, 11:57:03 pm
And we're off, in style! This at 2346BST 29th May 2009

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc090529.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 30, 2009, 02:54:57 am
Here's one of mine from earlier, not bad for a season starter!
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2jexr2f.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on May 30, 2009, 02:57:39 am
nice images Martin and Paul :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 30, 2009, 03:13:18 am
Quote
And we're off, in style!
That's a better display than I got, but I did get a positive NLC - diffuse arc in the Lynx region (east of Auriga and north of Gemini) from approx. 0010 - 0055 BST, distinctive silvery blue colour, not bright, no fine structure.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on May 30, 2009, 09:27:53 am
Congratulations for the season start guys!  :D
I have read Spaceweather today, Martin is at the front page!  ;)

I watched the sky on May.29 evening - nothing here. (Still not able to start with a regular watch)  :-\


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 30, 2009, 12:51:38 pm
Thanks Roman. Here's another one of mine showing the strange loop that developed in the later stages. It passed through Gemini.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/28su3ax.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 30, 2009, 01:09:36 pm
Very good John. Shortly after I got my shots the sea fog came up and that was it for me!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 30, 2009, 05:55:04 pm
Excellent stuff everyone - a successful night. Notice how all the early displays this year are evening events compared to the last two years which produced many pre-dawn displays.

The May 29/30th display was the best 'first' season NLC display I have ever seen. Observed from 22.30-23.45 UT, extending from W to N sky 100 degrees in azimuth from Gemini into Perseus and over 20 degrees high. Type 3 brightness with silver, white, blue, yellow, and green colours. Structures observed, bands, waves, whirls, knots. A lovely display to begin the season. Thanks to John McConnell who confirmed them for me over the phone when they first formed in bright twilight, that confirmation took about one sec!

(http://i42.tinypic.com/iwn1xh.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/24evvqw.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/33f8a9w.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 30, 2009, 07:08:03 pm
Here's my partner in crime Jonathan taking images, thanks for the lift up the road Jonathan at such short notice, let us see your images, I know you got some good ones ;)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2hgzjtv.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 30, 2009, 09:49:20 pm
That's a very cool shot John  :). Jonathan, would love to see your images when you get a chance.

Congrats guys, that's three of us the SW homepage at the same time  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 30, 2009, 09:52:17 pm
Indeed, the three of us on the first sighting! Would love to see Jonathan's shots!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 30, 2009, 09:58:39 pm
Here's the spaceweather email alert...

Space Weather News for May 30, 2009http://spaceweather.com FIRST NLCs of 2009: The first noctilucent clouds (NLCs) of 2009 have been sighted over northern Europe. Last night, May 29th, photographers recorded wispy electric-blue tendrils spreading across the twilight skies of Denmark, Northern Ireland and Scotland. This follows a similar display over Russia on May 27th. These sightings signal the beginning of the 2009 NLC season, which is expected to last until late July. Early-season NLCs are usually feeble, but these were fairly bright and vibrant, suggesting that even better displays are in the offing.

Check today's edition of http://spaceweather.com for photos. Noctilucent clouds are an unsolved puzzle. They float 83 km above Earth's surface at the edge of space itself. People first noticed NLCs in the late 19th century. In those days you had to travel to high northern latitudes to see them. In recent years, however, the clouds have been sighted in the United States as far south as Oregon, Washington and even Colorado. Climate change, space dust, and rocket launches have all been cited as possible explanations for the phenomenon. Interestingly, low solar activity seems to promote the clouds, so the ongoing deep solar minimum could set the stage for a good season in 2009. The best time to look for NLCs is just after sunset or just before sunrise when the sun is between 6 and 16 degrees below the horizon. That's when the geometry is just right for sunlight to illuminate the tiny ice crystals that make up the clouds.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on May 31, 2009, 12:37:18 am
Here are some of mine no sign of any nlc's tonight it was good craic last night John!

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2dion5j.jpg)


(http://i39.tinypic.com/123wrxf.jpg)



jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on May 31, 2009, 12:57:34 am
Those are excellent Jonathan, best I've seen yet. Yea the craic was good I enjoyed it and the look thro the big bins.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on May 31, 2009, 04:09:48 am
Great work everyone! Congrats Martin and Paul for getting on spaceweather!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 31, 2009, 01:48:35 pm
Jonathan, thanks very much for posting those great images. I agree 100% with John, that first image is the best NLC image taken so far this season!. Stunning colours and structure with the classic electric blue colour. You even captured that patch of herringbone structure to the R of Capella. Look at Algol to the lower R embedded within the orange glow!.

Seen nothing last night despite a very good clear sky, except for some high level cirrus above Capella before dawn catching the Sun. Hopefully we will get another tonight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: davegrennan on June 02, 2009, 02:27:47 am
There was some visibility this evening from Raheny.

Here's a couple of images I snapped.

http://webtreatz.com/content/view/77/1/


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 02, 2009, 09:41:40 pm
Now that's impressive, certainly given that you're a lot further south than us oop North here Dave. I didn't see anything that I'd call real NLCs last night - the lunar interference is becoming a factor as indeed is the prolonged twilight. I took this patrol shot before giving up and going to bed...

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nonlc090602.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2009, 12:18:49 pm
Nice patrol image Paul.

Dave, nice images, I like that one with you standing in the shot with the observatory. I didn't see any NLCs that night myself from here.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2h4kmr7.jpg)

There was a faint display last night visible from 02.00-03.25 BST, 50 degrees wide and 15 degrees high in the NW to N predawn sky. Type 1 brightness with veil and bands. Very faint and unimpressive, have a few poor images but they are barely worth posting. Still an NLC display though. Hopefully we will get a bigger one tonight.



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2009, 08:47:08 pm
Here's a youtube video I have never seen before on NLCs produced by NASA. A nice informative clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPnaEo_Efg


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on June 04, 2009, 01:31:18 am
Got some images of to nights display 4/6/09.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2uft5hi.jpg)


(http://i41.tinypic.com/33vzszq.jpg)


(http://i43.tinypic.com/2ey7vjb.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/vxzrwy.jpg)

jonathan.



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 04, 2009, 04:28:50 am
Here's one of the many images I got. This was a beauty!
(http://i39.tinypic.com/3519x4z.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 04, 2009, 07:05:54 am
Those are absolutely beautiful shots Johnathan and John, congratulations!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 04, 2009, 08:30:29 am
Excellent shots John and Jonathan! I had cloud to the North shortly after dusk so I missed that one  :(

PS, we seem to have Page 1 of the gallery sewn up!
http://spaceweather.com/nlcs/gallery2009_page1.htm


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 04, 2009, 10:37:16 am
Congratulations!

The display here was faint & higher in the sky, filling the Ursa Major region, in fact I was suspecting it was very thin cirrus lit by the Moon & artificially (  >:( ) so I didn't take a lot of notice, made the best of the excellent transparency & seeing. You lot further South were possibly seeing this same formation brighter because of the more favourable angle. Between 2 am & 3 am (BST) there was a enhancement of the twilight arc in the NE which I believe was the "lowest grade" of NLC (unstructured glow), certainly the colour was unusual for ordinary twilight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 04, 2009, 11:47:05 am
Thanks all! Now that I have managed to grab a few hours sleep on the couch!! I can have a look at some of the images. This display almost caught me out as when it started just after 2330BST it looked for all the world just like cirrus in the NW. I rang Martin and we discussed it and took a few patrol images from the drive. When it came nearer to midnight I decided I was going up the road to my vantage point. When I got there the display was more than obvious. Some of the structures were weird which I have not seen before, especially so early in the season. By 1am it died away somewhat but by 2am it came back but only for an hour or so. As you say Brian the N-NE sky took on this strange electric blue colour which didn't appear to show much structure, but for some reason the camera picked it out. The shot below was taken at 02:30BST but by 3am the display was all but gone. The one on SW was a rushed job but it's nice to dominate the homepage and the Gallery ;D
(http://i42.tinypic.com/264rjig.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 04, 2009, 05:02:50 pm
Those are lovely images guys!!. John, that first image is great, such rich colours and great structure.  :)

I observed the same display until 03.00 BSTalso. Average brightness type 3 with enhancements to type 3.5. Approx 30 deg high and + 80 deg long from NW to W of N. Electric blue colours, green, and orange were seen along with the classic white and silver. Complex structures present - bands, veil, waves/heringbone, lacunosus holes, knots, and whirls. A very high quality display for early June!!

To save time I have added my images to this link on my website...(900 pixels wide)

http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Sky%20Events%20Now.html

Amazing what the difference in latitude can do Brian from our different latitudes. Keep watch tonight for more.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on June 04, 2009, 06:16:38 pm
Great work John M and Martin!! both on spaceweather front page! Paul is in the gallery too :)

All excellent images fellas. Martin describes it well as an electric blue...is this where the phrase "a midnight summers dream" came from? lol


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 05, 2009, 03:23:23 am
Notable NLC this morning (June 5th), got some images but I need kip. Full report tomorrow.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 05, 2009, 03:50:12 am
...same here Brian, visible until near dawn..convective clouds below them too which looked cool contrasting with the silver NLCs...need kip now also.  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 05, 2009, 05:18:08 am
I have to get some kip as well, but here's one taken earlier! It was a beauty.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/t8vtro.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 05, 2009, 10:59:21 am
Stunning John!!!  :o. Wish mine turned out as a good as that.  :(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 05, 2009, 12:33:48 pm
Zzzz... OK, woke up, uploaded images ....

Two views at wide angle looking North and North East
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1041.jpg)
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1042.jpg)

Zoomed in a bit looking North
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1043.jpg)

Zoomed in quite a lot looking about ENE, where there was a small patch almost isolated from the main display but as bright as anything else visible
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1044.jpg)

All taken between 0251 & 0255 BST (June 5th 2009), 5 sec @ f/4, ISO 100

The display started approx. 0200 BST as an enhancement to the twilight glow (like yesterday) and was still in progress at 0320. Though apparently fading in the brightening twilight the display was becoming gradually more complex, with more fine detail.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 05, 2009, 03:30:15 pm
Very nice images Brian!, the second one is quite spectacular showing the full extent of that display. Very nice.

Here's a few of my own, didn't get a good focus but no matter. Visible from 00.57 - 03.30 BST, type 4 brightness, > 120 degrees in azimuth, 30 degrees high with electric blue, green and silver colours. Shadow casting display. Whirls, lacunosus holes, IIb bands, waves/herringbone and veil. This is the 3rd night in a row of NLC activity, the season is in full swing now.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/9k82lk.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/i1jq1i.jpg)

(http://i41.tinypic.com/30xidk4.jpg)

You can see the dark towering cumulus clouds in the last two images.


(http://i41.tinypic.com/nfo3o6.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/walxjt.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 05, 2009, 03:55:42 pm
Very nice images indeed Brian and Martin.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 05, 2009, 08:45:42 pm
Looks like you guys had a good night! I set up my time-lapse camera at 2245 when things were looking very promising, and turned it off when I awoke at 0040 to find the North sky 100% cloud covered - an exact repeat of the previous night! So I have the raw materials to make a video of big black clouds coming in from the east, but no NLCs for me :(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 05, 2009, 09:02:08 pm
Quote
Very nice images Brian!, the second one is quite spectacular showing the full extent of that display. Very nice.
Thanks Martin .... the images actually show more than was readily visible to the naked eye, I think the eye is bad at picking out faint low contrast detail whereas the camera captures it more easily.

Sorry to hear about your clouds, Paul. I'd almost forgotten what they look like, 8 consecutive nights effectively completely clear. Unheard of ... if the sky wasn't the same (Antares just scraping along the horizon) I'd swear we'd been transplanted to the Mediterranean! The forecast for tonight is less promising but nasty looking one band of showers has passed by with only a light sprinkling here & the sky is apparently clearing up again :o


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 05, 2009, 09:23:57 pm
PS, we seem to have Page 1 of the gallery sewn up!
http://spaceweather.com/nlcs/gallery2009_page1.htm
Congratulations guys, well done!
Martin, nice report on your website.  :)

Nothing seen from here during a few recent evenings.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 05, 2009, 11:13:49 pm
Thanks for the comments Roman, Richard, and Tyler.

Tyler, the term 'mid Summer night's dream' is very fitting indeed, I think I have actually used that line before when talking about NLCs. They certainly are a mid Summer's dream for us each year.

Paul, sorry to hear about those clouds, keep watching...

I think John 9929 got the real cracker (previous page) from last night.

Here's a few more I took of the NLCs just before dawn showing the dark convective towers contrasting against the NLC. The horizon was orange below the convection where the glow of the Sun would later rise. I really liked these scenes.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/28218ua.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/w814qu.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2vke2k1.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 06, 2009, 12:00:34 am
I must say again Martin, those are beautiful images. I really like # 3 with the hint of orange beginning to peek under the cloud layer, and I also really like the wide angle that shows just how really dark the sky still is. We haven't had any NLC's that I've noticed. We're at a pretty low latitude for them here. I have seen them on rare occasions though. Good job!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 06, 2009, 02:00:02 am
Nice images Brian and Martin. Here's another couple of mine from last night.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2uohukz.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/5p0jno.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/rbz3lv.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/eiuoh4.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 06, 2009, 08:32:07 am
Nice ....

June 5/6: A frustrating night, the horizon seemed to clear in most directions most of the time but the useful bit of the sky was fairly stubbornly overcast. Still I did manage to get half a dozen variable star observations, and no showers hit me.

The clearest bit of the sky was low in the north to north east and the transparency between the low level cloud was good. NLC negative, though, at least until 0245 BST when a particularly dark cloud approaching from the east caused me to pack up; with the sky brightening rapidly, only another 15 minutes or so would have been possible anyway.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 06, 2009, 02:48:02 pm
Richard, thanks very much for your kind words.  :)

John, cracker images, the 4th one down is a real beauty!!

Brian, that confirms what my night was like. It was clear, then clouded over with some light showers, then back to clear skies again before dawn. I seen no NLC activity at all, although there was some impressive dark convective towers along the northern horizon below Capella bubbling up around 03.00 BST which looked cool. Didn't take any images at all so everything was quiet. Round 2 tonight....


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 07, 2009, 03:52:06 am
June 6/7: Sky to the N mostly clear but with persistent cloud along the horizon. NLC not seen.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on June 07, 2009, 11:24:16 am
Great set of images folks last night sat was clouded out here it will be interesting to see what the week ahead brings hopefully
clear skies!


jonathan


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 07, 2009, 12:05:49 pm
Clear spells very low in the N on and off all night. No NLC activity observed.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 08, 2009, 10:00:00 am
Jun 7/8: Poor conditions with much broken alto/stratocumulus & patchy cirrostratus. NLC not seen.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 08, 2009, 12:33:04 pm
Clear from 02.00 BST until dawn. No NLC activity seen either.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 08, 2009, 10:11:15 pm
Here's a patrol image from 02:17BST. Nice sky but no NLC's!
(http://i44.tinypic.com/9rt735.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 08, 2009, 11:49:07 pm
Very nice patrol image John with the Lough in the foreground. The sky, and trop clouds, look exactly like what I seen here before dawn.

Good clear sky here at the min...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 09, 2009, 04:11:27 am
Quote
Good clear sky here at the min...
Same here but no NLC seen. (Jun 08/09)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 09, 2009, 01:23:51 pm
Clear until dawn here last night...no NLCs observed. We are overdue another any night now.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 10, 2009, 09:10:14 am
Same here Martin .... I can't believe this run of weather!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 10, 2009, 09:13:14 am
Yep, clear here all night, but not a hint of NLCs!

Video in HD - use "Watch in You Tube" option on right click....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DEo6driUqQ


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 10, 2009, 09:35:19 am
Very nice video Paul.

Seen nothing last night at all, it has been quite alot of nights now since the last display, this has been a strange season so far....


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 10, 2009, 11:59:24 pm
June 10th, 2355 BST, sky clearing from north, NLC in progress in sky below & just to the left of Capella.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 11, 2009, 02:36:10 am
Thanks Brian, just back from imaging, got some good ones, loads of structure in that display, and yet again some strange formations I have not seen before. Off to get some kip now so will post images later.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 11, 2009, 03:36:27 am
The display was a bit unusual - broad bands with only faint rippling - but definitely unmistakeable for anything else. Persisted in the Auriga region until at least 0245 BST, some interference from convective cloud later in the night - I got rained on, I'd forgotten it could do that! Interesting to me was that the max height of the display declined until local midnight (approx. 0120 BST) then started to increase again. Once again I noticed a brightish patch, apparently isolated from the main display, in the NE towards morning.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 11, 2009, 06:44:28 am
Got a good bunch of still frames - here's the video, slightly affected by Jude part closing the window part way through, but the action isn't affected!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3oufk_dJAk


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 11, 2009, 07:28:11 am
Looks like you guys got some great results last night! (I'm jealous! :P)  You seem to be having the run of the weather, although clear skies are potentially predicted for me tonight, so, fingers crossed! Like those HD vids Paul, they work really well  8)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 11, 2009, 12:00:40 pm
Yeah Mark we had a great display here this morning. Of interest was a row of holes below Capella and some circular patches of ripples to the east of. I have never seen these forms before. These images are untouched except resized, and are in the order of 8-10 seconds at ISO800.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/s27hc8.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2yttl45.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/15x2x6f.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 11, 2009, 01:38:05 pm
Brian, thanks for the heads up last night. I had alot of cloud in that area so couldn't be certain from here as all I could see was a faint glow to the SE of Capella, then it cleared abit more after 00.30 BST and  that was when I could see NLCs for certain. I watched the display until after 03.00 and noted that strange detached segment in the NE which was notably blue. Seen bands, veil, and extremely well defined waves/herrigbone arranged in dramatic clusters below Capella before dawn. I seen those convective clouds on the northern horizon bubbling up and thought there were showers falling in that direction, which Brian and the radar confirmed, however all throughout the session patchy trop cloud hid the best part of the display. I had trouble getting my camera focused too so haven't resized the images yet, hopefully will get to rescue a few of them. Good to see another display again!!, type 3 brightness, 80 degrees in azimuth and 15 degrees high.

Paul, great timelapse, that's the first of many spetcacular results to come!

John, great images, the last one really captures that display of herringbone very well, lovely results as always.

Mark, keep watching tonight, this could be the start of a 'burst' of NLC activity over the next few nights  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 11, 2009, 03:13:45 pm
Nice images John!

Nothing was noticed from here during a few recent evenings.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 11, 2009, 04:45:08 pm
Thanks Roman, some nice structure here under Perseus!
(http://i41.tinypic.com/1f8d2h.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 11, 2009, 05:32:35 pm
A few from last night...

(http://i42.tinypic.com/258p1sk.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/s5g36u.jpg)

(http://i41.tinypic.com/2ut5d90.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/15yalgw.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 11, 2009, 06:12:13 pm
Congrats guys!!..page 2 of the spaceweather NLC gallery is updated...

http://www.spaceweather.com/nlcs/gallery2009_page2.htm?PHPSESSID=2mc2qqpe9ahv4b80j2n7hukrl4


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 11, 2009, 11:57:56 pm
Anybody seeing anything for tonight?  I've just walked back from a local 'hostelry' and despite my best view this year of the twilight arch I couldn't make out any NLC.  Any joy elsewhere?  ::)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 12, 2009, 01:08:11 am
Crystal clear here as well Mark but nothing so far :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 12, 2009, 03:04:55 am
Quote
Crystal clear here as well Mark but nothing so far
Same here ... sky completely clear & very transparent except for a few shreds of cirrus (contrail?) low in the SSW but no trace whatsoever of NLC; now packed up as it is far too light for me!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 12, 2009, 01:45:01 pm
stunning clear night...not a sign of any NLC activity at all.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 15, 2009, 11:47:16 pm
I think i've got my first NLC sighting of the season tonight!  Not the best, i'm not at my usual loft window vantage point (the mrs has gone to bed and climbing into the loft will wake her!), i'm peering in between street lights at ground level with an urban horizon-scape, but they're NLC.  Also observers in Bath also seen NLC this evening  ;D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 15, 2009, 11:53:26 pm
Yes, right here I have bright & extensive NLC with waves & ripples up to 40 degrees altitude in the NW!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 16, 2009, 12:05:20 am
Yep, it's coming out of the twilight nicely - very high - 30+ deg and 60 deg wide centred slightly W of N right now - a fair bit of other cloud about but enough clear patches to get some shots!

Should be a good one!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: mjs on June 16, 2009, 12:16:18 am
Hi,
Saw the NLC display from here in Kerry...
(http://www.kerryastronomyclub/graphics/nearsky/090615_2244nlc.jpg)

taken at 23:44 BST

edit.. Off site image does not show up?? See http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/component/fireboard/?func=view&catid=21&id=78853#78853 (http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/component/fireboard/?func=view&catid=21&id=78853#78853)

Michael Scully


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 16, 2009, 03:06:47 am
The display seems to have lasted all night here, there were fadings at times and also some retreat to the north as well as a shift from NW to NNE - but the transparency was also variable, with haze/mist as well as drifting stratocumulus at times.
Here's a couple of images, both with Canon 40D, 17mm

2251 UT, looking NNW
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1050.jpg)

2256 UT, looking NW
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1053.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 16, 2009, 04:01:23 am
I'm just home after a couple of wonderful hours. I had heavy fog in Maghaberry earlier so I decided to go somewhere to try and get out of it. I ended up outside Glenavy up a wee narrow road where I was so high I was looking down on the fog. The view was fantastic and I nearly filled my card with images. By 02:15BST the display was well above Capella and by 03:15BST it was overhead. Two great big bands stretched either side of the moon, and many more were over in the N-NW. Venus? was seen rising above Divis Mountain in the NLC's! This was the best display I've seen in a couple for years, trouble is now how to pick a couple of images for the forum! Anyway enough for tonight, I'm off to get some sleep!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 16, 2009, 04:07:24 am
I will second that - what an absolutely incredible display, the best of the 2009 season so far and possibly one of the best of the last two years. Before dawn they covered the entire sky, moving over the Moon and Jupiter. The type 5 brightness display made the fog glow blue then white which was breathtaking!!. Got plenty of images to sort out. What great last 3-4 days this has been for sky action.

John, I got your text but I'm way too tired so going to call it a night. Glad you made the drive and battled with the fog for what turned out to be a stunning display.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 16, 2009, 07:19:25 am
Excellent stuff guys!  Great shots Brian, look forward to seeing everybody elses images later on :D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 16, 2009, 08:01:50 am
Here's 240 shots for starters :) 4 hours from 2305 to 0305 in 30 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbs6ntDrifI

Don't forget to open the HD version - much better.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 16, 2009, 12:20:45 pm
Actually I've done a remixed version with more accurate colour balance......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0MvXqi8L4


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 16, 2009, 02:00:18 pm
Here's a few of mine from this morning. In those last three that is the fog in the valley I got above! In the last one showing the moon on the right if you look between the masts and near the horizon that dot is the planet Venus! This is only a random selection of the many images I took.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/b8ajdi.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/2w1xr88.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2e67bza.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/13zs505.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Padraig OBrien on June 16, 2009, 02:02:23 pm
I saw my very first NLC last night cudnt take pics my camera wouldnt adjust properly.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 16, 2009, 02:24:12 pm
Quote
In the last one showing the moon on the right if you look between the masts and near the horizon that dot is the planet Venus!
Great images but that last one is really special! From 00:30 BST I was suffering from thick mist / thin fog which came & went a bit but spoiled the view more than I thought at the time, your images really do show how extensive the display was.

Padraig, like most astro subjects it really helps to set everything to manual - if you have a "landscape" mode (mountain symbol on the mode dial) that should help you get the focus right if you can't focus manually as "landscape" mode makes the camera focus on infinity. Also set the camera to daylight colour balance (the sun symbol). Start at about 5 sec @ f/4, ISO 400 and adjust until the histogram looks reasonable - experience is the real key but you don't want anything in the sky "bleached out" through overexposure, a bit of underexposure can be adjusted in the computer so that's the safe direction to make an error in.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 16, 2009, 03:24:37 pm
Great time lapse Paul and stunning images Brian and John. That 2nd one down is incredible with the NLCs illluminating the fog!!. Catching Venus in the display was really something special John!

Here's a selection of the images I took last night which you can see on my website. I almost filled a 2GB card!

http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Sky%20Events%20Now.html


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 16, 2009, 08:00:39 pm
Took this panoramic from a pair of the timelapse shots as I moved the camera - not as clean as if I'd used the DSLR but a good representation nevertheless....

http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlcpan0906162.jpg

Zoom in, pan across.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 16, 2009, 09:01:17 pm
Thanks very much Brian and Martin, yeah I was really pleased to get a few shots with Venus rising in the display never mind the moon. I also like the ones with the "blue fog" as well. Perhaps I should also point out that the effect was natural and could be seen with the eye. It really was a fantastic display which will be hard to equal, but one never knows! It's great to see so many great images being posted, sure puts other places to shame!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on June 16, 2009, 09:03:39 pm
Well done everyone on getting some stunning images, i was fast a sleep so i missed the best display in ages :'(

jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 16, 2009, 09:21:02 pm
Great images and vids all of you!  Lets hope for a repeat or even better performance tonight!  ;D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 16, 2009, 09:39:11 pm
Quote
Lets hope for a repeat or even better performance tonight!
100% greyout ... and it looks as though the forecast is going to be accurate


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 16, 2009, 09:41:54 pm
Quote
Lets hope for a repeat or even better performance tonight!
100% greyout ... and it looks as though the forecast is going to be accurate

Bad news there Brian :(  I reckon i've got a couple of hours max before the clouds roll in again...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 16, 2009, 10:31:03 pm
NLCs reported and photographed from Austria already tonight,  still clear where I am but just a little too early yet...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 16, 2009, 10:53:55 pm
No viewing from here either, 100% cloud :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on June 16, 2009, 11:26:17 pm
I think I've just seen and imaged my first NLC's... I have to say they are rather eerie...

Are these NLC's ?

Best I could get from my garden
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_6198.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_6199.jpg)

From the other side of the road though

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_6205.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_6203.jpg)



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 17, 2009, 01:00:36 am
Yes!!!!, crackers too, congrats on the catch. I agree with you on the eerie description  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 17, 2009, 01:15:33 am
Yes John, and beautiful images they are to, congrats on your first of many!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 17, 2009, 05:53:44 am
Those are great shots John. I don't think I've ever seen any NLC's from my latitude, 42 degrees. Good job!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 17, 2009, 07:11:22 am
Here's last nights selection, tropospherics were rolling in rapidly unfortunately drawing a halt to proceedings, still my first display of the season which i'm chuffed about! :D

(http://i39.tinypic.com/10fv11t.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/oky007.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/v3qayo.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/wrj6ti.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/1z4vpee.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/mlhyci.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/ztw6s3.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/30vp4yp.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2u430j4.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2eex9j5.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/s6ramd.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/1vjx5.jpg)

Images span from 22.00ut to 22.30ut (ish).  All images taken between 10-20mm fl.  


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on June 17, 2009, 07:27:57 am
John, those images with the NLC's above the fog are AMAZING!!! great work! glad you all have seen a nice display now


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on June 17, 2009, 07:42:30 am
Thanks for the comments and confirmation guys. Good set Mark, and everyone else..


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 17, 2009, 02:50:24 pm
Great set of images Mark, it lashed with rain here last night so nothing seen, it looked to be a good one as well. Thanks Tyler, and the amazing thing was I could see the colour reflected on the fog from the NLC's, bring on another one like that!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 17, 2009, 04:41:12 pm
Well done Mark on those NLC captures. That looks to have been a good display which must have covered a large area of sky. Great stuff! Nice long whirls and bands there.

Missed that one due to frontal system but there could be a chance of clear skies tonight..fingers crossed for more. I reckon there are going to be some awesome displays in the near future, possibly the best we have ever seen!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 17, 2009, 06:38:27 pm
Congratulations on a great display! and especially for those who have seen their first NLC!  :)

The NLC season in Ukraine is underway too.  :)
Next are a few reports, none of them are mine though... (All times are GMT+3)

Jun.14/15
21:45-22:15. Kharkov. Faint, types I,IIIa, alt.7-30o
02:40. Kremenchuk (49N, 33.5E). Type I, IIIa, brightness 2. (Image (http://radikal.ru/F/s53.radikal.ru/i141/0906/dd/775a483aaf5a.jpg.html), credit: A.Shchegelskii).
03:10. Alexandria (48.7N, 33.1E). Type I, III?
AM: on a way between Dnipropetrovsk & Cherkasy (48.5N,35E -- 49.5N,32E) . NLC, types not reported.


P.S. I will start with a regular watch in a few days. :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 17, 2009, 09:45:54 pm
First NLC from Poltava this year!  :D

June 17/18, 22:10-23:25 (GMT+3).
Not much difference in structure but a bright display. Max brigtness 3, max altitude 10o

time / alt / brightness / type
 22:10 0-10 (NLC? І,О ?)
 22:20 0-10 2-3 I, IIa(?)
 22:30 0-8 3 I, IIa(?)
 22:40 0-6 3 I, IIa
 22:50 0-6 2 I, IIa
 23:00 0-4 1-2 I
 23:10 3 1 I
 23:25 slowly faded out


Have captured this image at 22:09 (unfortunately I had no better camera with me)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/n4bm80.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 17, 2009, 10:50:27 pm
Large NLC display reported from Lativa tonight


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 17, 2009, 11:08:21 pm
Martin, is there any information on how large NLCs actually are? I know they're visible over wide areas - a "point" cloud ~50 miles up should be visible in an area with a ~500 mile radius - but just wondering if a NLC is likely to be big enough to be visible from both Latvia and Ireland or whether it would be a completely seperate "system" that we see (if there is a display here tonight!)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 17, 2009, 11:34:01 pm
The clouds are moving away here -as they move a huge and bright display is being revealed!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 17, 2009, 11:37:32 pm
Very bright covering half the sky, good luck everyone!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: scott86 on June 17, 2009, 11:57:46 pm
just observing my first NLC display, and what a cracker it is! have taken a few pics, lets see how they turn out, cloud is starting to obscure the view now, will have another venture outside later on!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 18, 2009, 12:21:27 am
I'm starting to clear again here it's amazing :o


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 18, 2009, 12:22:07 am
MAJOR nlc display going on tonight...  Just got back from pub, been observing it with a large crowd of regulars in pub garden - will post more details in the morning.  Darn, I wish i'd taken my camera...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 18, 2009, 12:37:40 am
I've been clouded out, but for the short time of clarity it was the brightest display I've ever seen - I mean, 1sec @ f4 ISO400 - that's about four stops less than a "normal" display!

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906170.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906171.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906172.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906173.jpg)

Hoping for another go later!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on June 18, 2009, 01:41:57 am
A stunning display tonight wed/thur the best i have seen to date, here are some images i took.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/28sr954.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2lse2oz.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/9a1zcm.jpg)

jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 18, 2009, 03:08:00 am
Quote
I've been clouded out, but for the short time of clarity it was the brightest display I've ever seen
Same here - it was actually ruining my night vision! But the tropospheric clouds did worse, only got about 1/2 hr usable sky during the "night".


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 18, 2009, 04:11:06 am
That was the most amazing display. It was cloudy here shortly after it started then cleared and I got some of the best shots yet with the 70-300mm lens. The detail in the display was fab. Then it clouded over again and I came home. Shortly after it cleared again and I was able to get the display from my back garden, at this stage it reached the zenith and beyond. While I was imaging earlier I was visited by a lovely owl that did a couple of low circles and a hover and nearly landed on my hand. It's beautiful to see nature taking an interest in what your doing out at night! Will post a few images when I get some shuteye.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 18, 2009, 06:39:29 am
Beautiful images Johnathan, congratulations!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on June 18, 2009, 08:49:52 am
I had some NLC of the Nasty Low variety last night.. shame. Nice captures guys.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 18, 2009, 11:46:52 am
Fortunately I left timelapse cam running all night - there were several breaks in the cloud and I managed to get some excellent shots of what is probably the best NLC display ever seen...

2336 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906181.jpg)

2343 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906182.jpg)

2349 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906183.jpg)

0125 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906184.jpg)

0155 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906185.jpg)

0248 BST
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906186.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 18, 2009, 01:16:02 pm
WOW!!, guys those images are stunning, what a fantastic result  :o, I like those shots over the lights of Larne....amazing.

My goodness, what a display last night, it was just stupendous!!. Observed from 23.30 - 03.30 BST, type 5 bightness, in fact, it looked brighter than any high quality type 5 display I have ever seen, the brightness scale may need to be modified lol. Breathtaking electric blue colours which were like a dreame come true. I seen a strange brown, gold, and purple colour along the top edge at one time. I had trouble with trop cloud before dawn so only glimpsed it in small gaps, but from what I seen it was beyond words!. The intense blue and white struture was like a skeleton or twisted spine - another absolute monster display. Bands, large scale and smal scale whirls, lens shaped dark lacunosus-type structure, herringbone/waves and knots. Difficult to describe in words. Certainly one of the very finest displays I have ever seen. During evening twilight it was at the zenith near Arcturus. Haven't sorted through images yet, but results are nothing like what's on here!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 18, 2009, 02:09:32 pm
(http://i40.tinypic.com/qy7248.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/dhblsn.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/21wwsw.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2n9m0ax.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/b7zbcj.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/w720t4.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 18, 2009, 03:04:31 pm
Nice shots!

The cattle seem more interested in you than the sky ... ;D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 18, 2009, 03:18:28 pm
Thanks Brian, they sure were, they kept walking over and sniffing my tripod and messing up the images so I had to shooo them away, then they came back again for more, very nosy Cows, but equally as friendly, and I enjoyed their company. They came handy for an image too. Cheers.  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 18, 2009, 08:38:37 pm
Just a few of the 124 images from this morning!
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2comwsw.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2wq4pvm.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/otzpde.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/34fbome.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/30vzucw.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/14n32op.jpg)



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 18, 2009, 10:49:23 pm
Excellent John!, 2, 3 and 4 really catch my eye but I'm really falling in love with numer 3, stunning structure, colour, and great depth, the contrast with the lower trop cloud really sets it off. That's the first fisheye NLC image I've seen anywhere this year. - fantastic result  :)

John, can you imagine what no 3 would like look blown up and mounted on the wall.... :o


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 18, 2009, 11:20:11 pm
Those are really magnificent John, # 3 is my favorite also. Good job!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 18, 2009, 11:55:35 pm
Looks like another display again tonight, I've only got small fast moving holes between the showers but there is a bright streamer in the North at about 20 deg altitude running almost up & down i.e. at right angles to the horizon, plus indications of other activity as well.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 19, 2009, 12:02:54 am
A big clump of cloud is covering the whole northern sky here so nothing seen so far.

Thanks guys for the comments, here's another close in shot with very fine detail shot at about 200mm I think as I couldn't see in the dark and forgot my red head light! The bright star is Capella with The Kids on the right.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/6sc3g5.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 19, 2009, 12:12:09 am
I can confirm that Brian, horizontal bands of various brightness observed with binos through holes in cloud in the NW.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: davegrennan on June 19, 2009, 12:39:51 am
Some amazing NLC's tonight too!!!

Some quick and dirty photos;

(http://webtreatz.com/images/stories/NLC/190609_nlc_1.jpg)
(http://webtreatz.com/images/stories/NLC/190609_nlc_2.jpg)



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 19, 2009, 12:51:59 am
We're on a cloud break here, so here's how it's looking so far...

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906191.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906192.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906193.jpg)

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/nlc0906194.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 19, 2009, 12:56:27 am
Hey Dave, fantastic shots - see how we both have the "Dolphin" :)

Paul.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 19, 2009, 03:19:54 am
Great shots guys, I didn't even get that much just a few partly covered with shower clouds. I don't think it for clearing so sack time!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 04:06:50 am
John, that's a stunning zoom NLC shot...you are on a roll  ;)

Excellent images Dave and Paul...top stuff!

The display last night, between 01.00 and 02.00, was the most incredible display I have ever seen in my life!!!. The structures were out of this world, an actual dream come true. The shadow-casting whirls, loops, knots, and pillars were moving rapidly among the brighter stars as seen with the naked eye. The colours and high defintion structures were so good that I will not sleep tonight. As a result, I have got my very finest NLC images - ever. What an awesome season this has turned out to be. If anyone is reading this and hasn't seen a first class NLC display before, then start watching from now on...you won't believe your eyes!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 19, 2009, 07:22:23 am
Fantastic images all!  Congrats on Spaceweather front page too Martin ;)

I observed visually last night, but unfortunately didn't image on this occassion.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 19, 2009, 08:28:30 am
Pretty well done by the other NLC (nasty low clouds) I'm afraid ... only a few short lived fast moving holes between frequent showers but it was clear Something Was Going On. Absolutely useless for observation though. Very frustrating as is often the case with showery airstream except in spring ..... summer must be here  :(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 19, 2009, 10:13:00 am
Great Front page Martin, well done!

Here's a short HD video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBH-IvKyZk


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 11:20:45 am
Thanks very much Mark and Paul for the comments. Those images are not even 'processed' either, that's how impressive the structure was last night. Congrats to you Paul also for getting on the gallery again. A great result!

Sorry to hear about the cloud Brian, I had quite alot of showers and periodic cloud here too but it always cleared up again from the W. I suspeted you had a bad night near the coast.

Paul, I was hoping you would post a timelapse video of that display because the NLCs last night exhibited the fastest motion with the naked eye that I have ever seen. They were blowing past Capella in real time and far faster than any normal cirrus clouds. My Sister was watching the display and was blown away by the structure, she has seen 7 displays this year lol, before dawn we seen insect or reptile-like structures in the clouds. One patch looked like a skeleton type form similar to the Aliens in the movie of the same name, another patch even looked like the 'stomach busters' from the same film. Before retiring for the night I could see the faint extensions of this display creeping over the crescent Moon for the second time this season. This is the best NLC season I have ever experienced! - enjoyed the timelapse  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on June 19, 2009, 11:55:41 am
Well done Martin cracking shots and Spaceweather too. Like Brian, I've been cursed with the Nasty Low type every night since Tuesday.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 03:05:54 pm
Thanks very much John, I hope you get a good clear night soon, you deserve it.

Here's a few from last night...

(http://i39.tinypic.com/zyec68.jpg)

(http://i41.tinypic.com/bj75n6.jpg)

(http://i41.tinypic.com/2inb50.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/1rvpkk.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/33m7qtg.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/fp1duw.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 19, 2009, 03:38:17 pm
Quote
Here's a few from last night...
Wow, I could see something was going on but I'd no idea I was missing that wonderful display.....


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 19, 2009, 03:45:45 pm
Those are just incredible Martin, almost reminds me of some sort of lightning diplay. Just beautiful!!. Since I have never seen any NLC displays, let me ask a couple of questions to all of you. I'm sure the legnth of camera exposure enhances the brightness somewhat, but how much, are they nearly as bright as presented? Do they last all night? Being at the higher latitudes, does it get completely dark at night?. Just curious. Thanks to all for msuch great images.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 19, 2009, 04:00:26 pm
Hi Richard,

I'm sure Martin and John will be along with more details soon, but here's my take on your questions....

The camera exposure does enhance the effect - the exposures tend to be a few seconds at moderate sensitivity - in fact a lot of mine are shot at ISO 100 - my Dimage A2 bridge camera is noisy at anything higher - but the NLCs are very visible to the naked eye. Estimating magnitudes is difficult with such big objects, but the brightest stars in the area such as Capella, Mirphak and Algol will generally shine through NLCs whereas dimmer stars will generally not be so visible, so you could say that perhaps the clouds are equivalent to 2nd mag stars on average.

NLCs can last all night, indeed it is usually the oncoming dawn that brings displays to the end.

No, it doesn't get completely dark at night. Here, just under 55deg N there is still plenty of light in the sky at 0124 BST which is the time that the Sun is furthest below the horizon. From mid-May to the end of July one can pretty much forget about looking for faint galaxies and the like - the sky is simply too bright. Some, like us here, go for the NLCs, some observe double stars and planets.

Hope that helps!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 04:21:58 pm
Thanks very much Brian and Richard.

Richard, camera's can enhance the brightness, but only if you overexpose the image. Those images from last night match what I seen from here, I always try my best to record the image as seen visually, this what I have been doing with all NLC images this season. The difficult part is the motion, NLCs will drift slightly even during a short exposure often blurring/trailing on the image. High ISO and short shutters reduce this effect, since my camera is noisy I use a low ISO and a slightly longer shutter. Those were taken using ISO200 last night which shows how bright the NLCs were, any higher and the image would have been burn't out. With the naked eye they cast shadows, illuminated the fields in the country, and reflected their multi colours off patches of ordinary cloud in the sky which was amazing. As John 9929 has done in the past - you can read a newspaper at night due to their brilliance. A type 5 display will get the attention of anyone who even glances out the window at the sky.

As for the stars, the brightest stars may be faintly seen through a bright type 4 display, however a type 5 show, like last night's, and the night before, will wash even the brightest stars from the sky. I would estimate that the recent displays were similar to the mag of planet Venus, if not much brighter, the same thing was seen during the 2008 season also when Venus was blocked out by NLC. So, in a nut shell, they are extremely bright!. Images don't enhance the mag in my opinion onless they are overexposed. They have got to be the most difficult subject to shoot. Bright twilight is with us for much of the short nights here, however during the middle of the night the twilight darkens further which is the best time to see NLCs, in my opinion,because  the colours and brightness jump out from the sky, and the more oblique viewing angle presents wonderful structures.

As for the display last night, the camera picked up the white and blue colours but missed out on the lovely yellow, green, and gold tones.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on June 19, 2009, 05:15:35 pm
Are you kidding me????  Martin has the bightest recorded NLC's I have ever seen a picture of!! Congrats Martin and fantastic work to capture them! Spaceweather homepage is nothing new to you lol. I think you could get a lot of international attention for those, like news stations that want to use the images and whatnot. Your persistance has paid off! Well done and congratulations Martin !


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 19, 2009, 06:09:55 pm
Richard, I would go along with everything the guys have said, but would add that in my experience NLC's are very difficult to image. You have to have that "feel" for them and practice is the only way I'm afraid. With the comming of digital cameras it has become a bit easier because you can actually see what the result is in seconds. Unlike the film cameras where you had to wait maybe a fortnight to see the results. Digital IMO don't pick up some of the beautiful colors that was present in last night's display, so there's still room for film if you can wait on the results. I was frustrated by cloud last night but still got a few images and will post a couple later. I actually waited up late to try for the Mare Orientale on the moon and set up my equipment. I thought the NLC display was over but when I put on the webcam I found I couldn't get a focus nomatter what I tried. It was then that I discovered that faint NLC's were passing over the moon so end of imaging! This is a strange season for NLC's, as every display so far has been different with different structures. I don't know why that is, even the experts don't know for sure. BTW, Martin is correct about reading the newspaper by their light. I was on holiday in the north of Scotland in the 1970's? when we had a wonderful display, and we tried that experiment. The display on the 16th here I could read the camera settings with no problem, so they can be very bright particularly in high latitudes, so much so that it's very hard to get a correct exposure without overexposing, it's back to parctice again I'm afraid!

Martin, you got some very interesting images there showing lots of strange structures, well done on getting SW homepage. I have'nt sent any in to SW for a few days as he tended to ignore my images from the 16th, the ones with the "blue fog".


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 07:00:00 pm
Thanks very much Tyler, very much appreciated!, I think a big congrats is in order to you Tyler on catching two tornadoes and amazing storm structures with stunning images to match!. I knew you would catch one this year.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: mark c on June 19, 2009, 07:56:33 pm
Hello being visting this site for a while now, i would just like to show the results of my first time to photograph Noctilucent clouds 0n the night of 17 June these were taken between 11:30pm and 12:30am with a Nikon D80 Various settings. Any advice much appreciated.

Mark
http://i43.tinypic.com/fwsu1z.jpg[/img]](http://i43.tinypic.com/fwsu1z.jpg) (http://[IMG)
http://i43.tinypic.com/rkwsh5.jpg[/img]](http://i43.tinypic.com/rkwsh5.jpg) (http://[IMG)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 08:14:38 pm
Hi Mark, many thanks for sharing your NLC images, only thing is, I can only see a white box with a red X. The images must not have uploaded properly. It would be great if you would re try, tinypic works very well.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 19, 2009, 08:19:52 pm
Hi Mark,

Welcome to the Forum! The Good News is you're in the right place - we have a combination of skills and raw enthusiasm here that is unrivalled on this island and we're all still learning!

The Bad News is - I can't see your images! We have no space of our own here so photos need hosted off-site - eg Flickr, Photobucket etc - I use my own webspace. You then insert the image URL between (http://and) tags in your message and voila!

Look forward to seeing your shots!

Clear skies,

Paul.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 19, 2009, 09:18:05 pm
Again, I'd like to thank everyone for posting these magnificent images, and for the wealth of information about NLC's. From anything I have seen on the internet, all of your images are the best. I was in Circle, Alaska one June about 10 years ago backpacking, and in a very remote, dark site, so I thought. I couldn't wait for the first night to check out the dark skies. Trouble was, the sun was only below the horizon for about 2 hours! Thanks again!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 19, 2009, 10:32:29 pm
A couple from this morning! The orange glow is from Belfast International Airport!
(http://i42.tinypic.com/xfry13.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/14bt9wx.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2arn94.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 19, 2009, 10:42:47 pm
Very nice images John, the first one looks fantastic with the red glow on the clouds, there's lots going on there!

Thanks again Richard, those are very kind words.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on June 20, 2009, 12:24:44 am
Great images John, I can't get over how bright those are!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 20, 2009, 01:23:28 am
Thanks Tyler, and those images are untouched as well :o.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 20, 2009, 07:50:59 am
Those are fantastic images John. Belfast International is most likely a real pain on most viewing sessions, but it really, literally, adds a flare to them in this instance. Good job!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on June 20, 2009, 09:03:23 am
Fantastic images martin,john,and congrats Martin on getting on sw those are just breathtaking.


jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 20, 2009, 09:51:28 am
Quote
Fantastic images martin,john
Indeed.

No show last night but unbroken cloud base below 5000 feet with rain falling from it  :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 20, 2009, 12:39:42 pm
Double display from last night...  :)

Jun. 19/20, 22:00-22:10 EEST (later were obstructed with Sc)
Type IIb, brightness 2, AZI 005-015 (W, NW were obstructed with Sc up to 20o), altitude 0-5о.

22:05
(http://i39.tinypic.com/30jn2og.jpg)

02:40-03:15 EEST
Types I, IIa, IIIb, IVa?, brightness 1-2 (max. 2.5), AZI 005-060, altitude 0-9о.

03:04
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2mrvgp4.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 20, 2009, 12:52:22 pm
Wow, just a few days passed and I have missed several pages in this topic...
Excellent shots guys! :)
Martin, that display is really incredible! But I liked the most the "NLC with cows" image - well done ;D

From mid-May to the end of July one can pretty much forget about looking for faint galaxies and the like - the sky is simply too bright.
Now I see there is a great difference between 55N and 50N latitude.
At this time near summer soltice we have a 4 hour gap between nautical twilight (22:40-02:45 EEST). There is constant astronomical twilight, but visually it looks like at least 2 hours of darkness near midnight.

P.S. The last night here was stunning! I wrote a 'short' report (http://astrophotoweather.smfforfree4.com/index.php/topic,1490.msg9981.html#msg9981) about it...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 20, 2009, 01:59:41 pm
Good digital record of last night's display Roman. I like the 2nd image best with the bands. I would count that as one display, because it was the same display which appeared back again with the rising Sun. Always nice to get an evening and pre-dawn display on the same night, although from our lat here, many of the big displays last all night long.

Might be clear this evening but cloud and drizzle are expected to arrive in from the Atlantic later...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 20, 2009, 02:24:47 pm
Thanks Martin
I like the 2nd image best with the bands.
Here is that shot in larger size. Can you help me to classify it?
(http://i44.tinypic.com/okwqvn.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 20, 2009, 03:07:26 pm
Hi Roman, those look like classic 'waves', also known as Herringbone structure, similar to ripples on a beach at low tide.  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 20, 2009, 05:09:23 pm
I would go along with that Roman, that looked like a great display you had, well done. Unfortunately we had 100% cloud/rain at my location so nothing to see here last night.

Thanks to the rest for the comments re the images, I'm finding it hard to keep up with this thread :-[


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 20, 2009, 09:44:46 pm
Thanks John.

Hi Roman, those look like classic 'waves', also known as Herringbone structure, similar to ripples on a beach at low tide.  :)
Martin, the "classic waves" is IIIb, am I right?

Just a hour ago I had another display here (they occure regularly!  :o ), of brightness 3-4 - the best one (yet) this year... There were some structures which I coudn't identify in a short time, now need to do it looking at photos.
I will post a report tomorrow and I hope for your help in idenifying.  ::)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 21, 2009, 04:15:07 pm
IIIb waves seem good to me Roman  ;)

Jonathan Bingham and I met up last night for an observing session and ended up having a fantastic time!. We went up to the NE coast looking over the Irish Sea and could see some of the Scottish Islands, Jonathan knows the name of the location better than I do. It was an overcast night, which we expected anyway, but we actually did see an NLC display glowing THROUGH the clouds which we were both 100% certain about. It must have been a type 5 monster and at least 20 degrees above the horizon. The place we were at was fantasic, it wa like the Island in Jurassic Park with fantastic cliffs, passing 'fog storms', a few showers, a fog bow, and amazing nature scenes. We seen Deer and Badgers and had a great time watching the ships on the Ocean all lit up at night through Jonathan's amazing 5" comet seeking binos which are a serious piece of kit. I asked Jonathan if I could keep them but for some reason he declined  :). It was such a mild night that we sat out on loungers watching the sky and generally having a great time on the Solstice. Definitely a special night which I won't forget. We even walked through the ghostly ruins of Dunluce Castle in the middle of the night...it was creepy too!. Thanks to Jonathan for a great night and for the chip and coke also...very much appreciated.  :). Might upload a few images on the photography section later.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 21, 2009, 09:18:09 pm
You had a great time there Martin...  :)

(...) an NLC display glowing THROUGH the clouds which we were both 100% certain about. It must have been a type 5 monster (...)
Here too - the solstice turns them being mad  :o - they occure each day both evening & morning, and there is at least one great display per day... I become tired to get 80 photos each day, having few time even to report about it...  :-\
Just an hour ago here was another great display: brightness 4, many different structures, nearly up to zenith and 140 degrees wide...  8)
I will report yesterday ones as soon as possible.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 21, 2009, 11:42:42 pm
Lucky you, we have 100% cloud here :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on June 22, 2009, 01:28:55 am
Hi all,

I'm new to the forum i stumbled on to your site because i was searching for a site with Noctilucent clouds pictures.

I wanted to show you my pictures of my clouds ;)

I took the pictures on 21-06-2009 at around 11:17pm from my roof of my bedroom window :D

Forgot something i'm from the netherlands.. city helmond

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09139.JPG)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09142.JPG)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 22, 2009, 08:57:35 am
Welcome to the forum, and thanks for posting your pictures!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 22, 2009, 10:30:13 am
Hey, welcome to the forum! Those of us in Northern Ireland missed that display due to wall to wall cloud - great shots, especially with Cassiopeia present. Did you send them to Spaceweather.com?

Cheers,

Paul.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 22, 2009, 12:59:29 pm
Hi and welcome to the forum. Thanks for letting us see one that we missed due to cloud. Looking forward to more from you soon.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 22, 2009, 03:14:42 pm
Hi, and welcome to the forum. Thanks very much for sharing your great NLC images with us, I really like the 2nd image with the nice structure with Cass at the top of the frame  :). Let's hope for more major displays for the rest of the season.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 22, 2009, 03:27:44 pm
Welcome to the forum. Enjoyed your images very much, keep them coming. This is a great forum for displaying all your photos.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: mark c on June 22, 2009, 03:47:44 pm
Hello being visting this site for a while now, i would just like to show the results of my first time to photograph Noctilucent clouds 0n the night of 17 June these were taken between 11:30pm and 12:30am with a Nikon D80 Various settings. Any advice much appreciated. (Now got photos on tinypic thanks for the tip martin and paul)

Mark
http://i43.tinypic.com/fwsu1z.jpg[/img]]
http://i43.tinypic.com/rkwsh5.jpg[/img]]


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 22, 2009, 04:17:02 pm
Hi Mark, lovely images which show the vivid electric blue colour extremely well. I recall that display, it had strange structure with lens-shaped loops/holes which can be seen on your image. Thanks for sharing, and glad you got the images sorted using a host. Cheers  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 23, 2009, 01:20:41 pm
Spotted an NLC display last night (June 22/23rd) from 03.00 - 03.30 BST during advanced twilight. It was the faintest display I have seen this season yet and appeared at type 1 brightness which required averted vision to see. They peaked at type 2 in the form of bands/wisps of white and blue colours and could be seen moving over the brighter stars of Aries. They were very crisp in binos. By 03.30 they had moved over Jupiter, into the zenith through the Summer triangle, then into the S. I didn't take images because they were not photogenic.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 23, 2009, 11:19:54 pm
NLCs currently being reported in Germany tonight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on June 23, 2009, 11:25:52 pm
Yes lucky again..

The netherlands (city helmond)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09161.JPG)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09167.JPG)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09169.JPG)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09172.JPG)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 23, 2009, 11:35:35 pm
Very promising Lightlord! I have crystal clear skies here. It has been exceptionally clear this evening. Regrettably I have to chair a 5 hour meeting tomorrow so time-lapse camera is going to have to keep an eye out for me :(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 23, 2009, 11:54:54 pm
Those are very nice images Lightlord, the 2nd one has great structure.  :)

I have alot of alto cu here in an otherwise clear sky.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 24, 2009, 03:52:56 am
Nice display here tonight, started quiet but a band of distinctive NLC glow appeared on the northern horizon about 00:30 BST, gradually growing in height, becoming more extensive & getting more complex; by 0237 BST (June 24th) this was the view looking north east
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1057.jpg)
Canon 40D, 17mm, 2.5 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 24, 2009, 07:48:21 am
Great shots Lightlord and Brian!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 24, 2009, 11:31:37 am
Rather more cloud than you but this was taken at 03:20BST. A nice batch of ripples that persisted until dawn.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2jdewoy.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 24, 2009, 12:04:00 pm
Quote
Rather more cloud than you
Yeah, that looks like the lot that moved in on me after my VS session terminated at 0230 BST due to increasing sky brightness. I was hoping to image Jupiter when it got round to the south but the seeing in the patches between the cloudlets was abysmal - Jupiter's limb looked like a Guernsey 3d bit most of the time, and it was impossible to see anything other than the major belts. Annoying as the seeing had been pretty steady during the "night".


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 24, 2009, 12:24:44 pm
Very nice images guys, Brian the display you got looked alot better than what I saw here.  :)

Observed NLC display from 01.20 - 03.30 BST, peaked at type 3 bightness with white/slight blue coloured herringbone, with soft-edged/diffuse bands and whirls all visible in advanced twilight. Didn't take any images, it soon became mixed up in alto cu trop cloud. Venus however looked spectacular low in the NE being very red in colour due to atmospheric extinction.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 24, 2009, 03:04:16 pm
I have some snaps from the timelapse camera - OK, but nowhere near last week's displays. Will post later.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 24, 2009, 03:48:59 pm
Here's another one of those ripples taken a few minutes later. Just before they were washed out by the dawn some of that "stuff" at the top of the image was over near the zenith.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/zwxoo1.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on June 24, 2009, 04:46:38 pm
i still don't know when exactly to look, in late late late twilight? or just twilight


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 24, 2009, 06:32:06 pm
Hi Tyler, look in the twilight arch when the Sun is between 6 and 16 degrees below the horizon, any time when the stars appear within the twilight really. Don't worry because if there's a display visible then you will certainly know it, especially if it's a bright one. Keep watching, you could get lucky some of these nights!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 24, 2009, 08:27:49 pm
Here's the vid from last night's display.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFP3o62yi1I


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 24, 2009, 09:27:06 pm
That's very nice Paul!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 25, 2009, 12:01:25 am
NLCs being reported from Germany again tonight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 25, 2009, 03:14:45 am
June 24/5: NLC negative but there was a persistent band of tropospheric cloud / sea fog? low in the north east which may have hidden a minor display.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 25, 2009, 03:30:38 am
Very minor display observed from Maghaberry, some ripples and waves but nothing special. Got a couple of images just to record it. Max alt about 2 degrees below Capella. Thick low cloud rolled in and put an end to observation.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 25, 2009, 03:21:41 pm
Hi Tyler, I've been chomping at the bit to see some NLC's from here in the States too, I just don't think it's going to happen. You're at about 41 N latitude and I'm at about 42.5 N, I think we're pretty much outside the realm of visibility, not to say that it's not possible. I read somewhere that 45 N is about the southern limit, give or take a little. Having never seen any, I relly don't know what I'm looking for either. Everytime I see something  after sunset it turns out to be just high, thin cirrus fading very quickly with the sunlight. I'll just have to continue enjoying the marvelous NLC images on the forum.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 25, 2009, 03:56:35 pm
Observed a poor NLC display last night (June 14/15th) between 01.00 - 02.00 UT in the NW to NE sky which reached 7 degrees above the horizon. A small patch below Perseus was glowing gold with a peak brightness of type 3. The display rapidly faded to type 1 brightness then spread out in azimuth sporting white veil and soft band structure. A group of well defined waves/herringbone formed below Capella before dawn. Not a very good display at all so I didn't take any images, however it was still an NLC display all the same. We are over due another round of big displays any night now.

Hi Richard, I think it's possible to get a display from your location, keep watching and you might get lucky.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 25, 2009, 05:42:11 pm
I got a few images last night (June 24/25) but as Martin says it was very umimpressive for the middle of the NLC season. This image was taken at 02:40BST and shows that structure below Capella (bright star upper right). It was quite murky lower down and had it been clearer it may have looked brighter.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/103sj9d.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 25, 2009, 09:48:18 pm
Richard, Tyler, just to compare: some recent NLC were seen from Romania (44-45N), Kazakhstan (42.5N) and Spain (41.5N).
And I remember early July last year when there was a display visible from Turkey and Iran (39N)!!
So keep watching, you might get some of them.  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 25, 2009, 09:59:46 pm
The results of summer solstice are 7 displays in 5 days! Great activity!  8)

I am a bit late with my report, will continue now...

June 20/21, 21:50-23:15 EEST
AZI 320-025, max alt. 10o,
brightness 2-3 (max 3,5), types: I, IIab, IIIb, IVa, S, O

22:13
(http://i41.tinypic.com/f5ag5f.jpg)

22:27
(http://i43.tinypic.com/14toh2t.jpg)

22:43
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ics70w.jpg)

June 20/21, 02:25-03:50 EEST
AZI 340-130, max alt. 100o,
brightness max 2, types: I, IIa, IIIab, IVab, P

02:58
(http://i41.tinypic.com/69nn92.jpg)

03:07
(http://i41.tinypic.com/122ncko.jpg)

03:08
(http://i44.tinypic.com/21ode2f.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 25, 2009, 10:00:25 pm
I'll keep watching and keep my fingers crossed! Great shots Roman.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 25, 2009, 10:02:38 pm
June 21/22, 21:45-23:05 EEST
AZI 240-030, max alt. 85o,
brightness max 4, types: I, IIab, IIIab, IVa, V, O

21:52
(http://i42.tinypic.com/1zx07z5.jpg)

22:02
(http://i39.tinypic.com/eta70p.jpg)

22:14
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2ahd2zc.jpg)

June 21/22, 02:55-03:30 (yahoo! I've got NLC on my birthday)  :D
AZI 345-050, max alt. 25o,
brightness 1, types: IIa, IIIa

03:17
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2niqvww.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 25, 2009, 10:04:12 pm
Thanks Richard.

No NLC seen from here since Jun.22 evening, although the sky is mostly clear.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 25, 2009, 10:08:30 pm
Those are very good Roman, especially the mag and structure in the first set with nice range of colours also. You have been getting alot of displays in your area recently.  :)

Not looking good here tonight, very hazy with building cloud at mid levels which have the first hint of instability in them.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 25, 2009, 11:27:48 pm
NLCs being reported from the UK tonight.

Cloudy here.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on June 25, 2009, 11:48:29 pm
Straight from the netherlands 26-06-2009 at 0:03 the show began here are the results ;)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09186.JPG)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/sized_DSC09188.JPG)



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 26, 2009, 12:08:42 am
Here there is a lot of tropospheric cloud & thick haze, can see Vega, Arcturus & Altair but not much else. The cirrus element is still lighter than the sky background. In the north there is a glow suggestive of a bright NLC display, though the haze is robbing the fine detail & altering the colour, so I'm not sure there really is anything going on. Temperature +16C at midnight .... sky too poor to observe, air to hot to sleep ....


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 26, 2009, 03:15:26 am
Well it was a very very poor night for observing, but a very good night for NLC. Some interference from tropospheric cloud (altostratus) and a lot of interference from haze but there was an extensive, complex and very bright NLC display which got better & better as the night wore on. By 0250 BST it stretched from NW to E and reached halfway to the zenith, with very well marked waves on a larger scale than usual. The electric blue colour faded gradually towards pale yellowish close to the horizon, almost certainly an effect of the haze.

10 frame animation here: http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/NLC-090626.gif (http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/NLC-090626.gif)
900 kilobytes but worth the effort of downloading, I think. 17mm lens pointing NNE, all exposures 2.5 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.
First frame at 0206 BST, frame interval 5 mins.

Immediately after the last frame I zoomed in to 70mm and (with the same exposure settings) took a closeup of the brightest part of the display
(http://www.bbhvig.uklinux.net/IMG_1075.jpg)
The star centre bottom is Capella, the only star visible in that direction.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 26, 2009, 03:50:24 am
Yeah Brian, that was the best I've seen this year so far. I had already come home from an earlier session and noticed the bands from the back door and  enter session No 2, this time from the middle of a hay field! Those bright bands were amazing and seemed to cast shadows, they were something the same as the ones I seen last year and they were early morning as well. Lost track of the images I took, but will post a couple tomorrow (later today!). Look forward to seeing your timelapse.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 26, 2009, 04:53:36 am
Great shots Lightlord and Brian, that closeup is a real winner!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 26, 2009, 07:34:52 am
I've not been on here for a day or so, and all I can say is WOW!  :o  Several pages of delightfull images and reports!   8)  Really good to read through  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on June 26, 2009, 08:25:23 am
An excellent display last night, initially marred by much lower cloud, but eventually the display shone through and lasted until dawn....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDhUfzdc6Gk


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 26, 2009, 01:07:11 pm
Those are great images and vids guys. Brian, you caught that lovely blue structure extremely well!

I had serious trouble with trop cloud and murk last night although I could see the uppermost part of the display around 00.30 and it was an easy type 4 brightness. Before dawn I was hampered by thick murk, so much so that no stars were visible in the sky, however the NLCs were visible through it all which was amazing, sporting herringbone structure across much of the entire sky. It looked like a stunning display, and one of the finest of the season so far, but not the best, I don't agree with that. Just to show the conditions I had to deal with, this is a shot before dawn in that horrible mucky sky. I wish I had it clear for this one.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/qssdqo.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 26, 2009, 08:31:12 pm
Great images everyone, here's a few of mine, better late than never! Sorry about the power lines :-[ Where I went to the second time I couldn't get parked, and though in the middle of a hay field couldn't get away from them. I already had an encounter with a car load of pests earlier so decided to look for somewhere I could get some peace. Why do some people always stick their nose in where it's not wanted!
(http://i44.tinypic.com/10gbmh4.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/219p5ih.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/dnk8ie.jpg)

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2wqvk7o.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 26, 2009, 08:42:36 pm
That last one is incredible John, it looks like a sand dune or a snowdrift!. Very interesting.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 26, 2009, 09:55:56 pm
Very interesting, we're obviously seeing the same formation even though we're tens of kilometers apart. Do you have an exact time for the last shot? My closeup (above) was 0252 BST. Looks like you've got beta Aur (with pi above it) in more or less the same position wrt the cloud as I've got Capella - if the times are similar we could triangulate....



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 26, 2009, 10:50:19 pm
Very nice images John, I too like that last image - great structure!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on June 26, 2009, 11:21:19 pm
Thanks Richard.

Brian - I had noticed that earlier when I saw your image, it is the same formation with beta Aur and Pi, though I will have to leave the maths to you I'm afraid ;D My image was taken at 02:56 BST and is one of two taken within the minute. Would be interesting to hear the result of triangulation if you manage it. BTW I'm in Maghaberry which is probably about 30 miles from you.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on June 27, 2009, 08:03:02 am
Very interesting, we're obviously seeing the same formation even though we're tens of kilometers apart.
BTW, I have recently observed the same NLC formation together with observer from Kyiv (350km apart), I can suppose even 400-500km is possible.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 01, 2009, 06:02:24 pm
Some of those images from SW.com showing volcanic sunsets from the US look very similar to NLC. Has anyone seen them yet?. Can't get a clear night here to see these sunsets or NLCs.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 01, 2009, 08:09:45 pm
Some of those images from SW.com showing volcanic sunsets from the US look very similar to NLC. Has anyone seen them yet?. Can't get a clear night here to see these sunsets or NLCs.

Not seen them personally Martin but I know others have seen some 'different' sunset effects of late whilst getting ready to look for NLC.  Looking outside now I actually have blue skies (now the sun is below the rooftops!) - will be sure to take a look in an hour or so's time tho :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 01, 2009, 08:13:00 pm
Yes I had Martin, in fact I mentioned this to you a few night's back, maybe you had forgotton? I can't make my mind up on them, but I have seen volcanic sunsets before and I never remember seeing ripples like that. Maybe all volcanic sunsets are different, I don't know. Here's an image from 18th Feb 2008 which shows the last big one from here.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/ve64hz.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 01, 2009, 08:14:50 pm
Great image John, that looks pretty volcanic to me! The 'ripples' seem to have been reported widely...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 01, 2009, 08:21:32 pm
The 'ripples' seem to have been reported widely...
Thanks Mark, maybe there's a bigger concentration of volcanic ash in the atmos this time?


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 01, 2009, 10:04:12 pm
Hi John, I recall vivdly you saying that, and hadn't forgotten, however the image on SW today was the one which really got my attention, it was the one showing ripples with the Moon in the same frame taken after sunset. The similarity to NLCs is very striking!, in fact they look exactly like IIb bands. There must be impressive amounts of dust in the atmosphere from that volcano, I've never seen such highly structured volcanic sunset images before.  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 01, 2009, 10:39:25 pm
Had a look this evening, but, tbh, there wasn't much in the way of volcanic sunsets visible from the west midlands.  Ever so slight hint of purply pink, but it really was ever so slight.  Certainly here a casual observer wouldn't have noticed it...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 02, 2009, 07:36:46 am
Sorry for getting off the subject of NLC's, but reading these posts tonight I had forgot I had taken these shots on the evening of June 26. These might fall into the catagory of volcanic sunsets, they coinside with the time period and images on spaceweather.com when the ash mass was passing over the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/21mcgnl.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/ztyetw.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 02, 2009, 08:50:01 am
Unexpected  & unforecast partially clear night last night, transparency was very poor though. NLC negative. The evening twilight did look redder than usual, possibly due to the Russian volcanic event. Morning twilight not observed as cloud cover increased to total around 0200 BST.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 02, 2009, 10:11:10 am
NLC were observed from about 02.00ut this morning in a couple of places...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 02, 2009, 12:16:58 pm
Great images Richard, that's definitey a volcanic sunset without doubt  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 04, 2009, 12:01:12 pm
NLC's were observed this morning 0200UT to about 0235UT covering a wide area of northern sky. Nothing too impressive though. Will post an image later.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 04, 2009, 12:14:03 pm
I seen that display too John, I could see two sections, in the N and NW, about type 2.5 brightness, structure was like a patch of veil or 'surface' with long blue wisps in the NW. I seen in it through cloud and murk but it looked like poor display. Still, good to see one on the same evening as the volcanic dust display.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on July 04, 2009, 01:54:30 pm
Superb volcanic sunset images Richard!  :)

P.S. No NLC from here for more than a week.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 04, 2009, 05:53:23 pm
This is one of the images I got this morning (July 4th) at 03:02BST. 4" f5.6 ISO 800. Not all that impressive but still a display to note.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2heapts.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 04, 2009, 07:18:51 pm
Looks nice John!, love the clouds above too  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 05, 2009, 10:41:52 am
July 04/05: Negative in the evening, a nice but not spectacular display in the NE in the morning - centered around Capella but running up to approx. 25 degrees elevation at 0245 GMT. Bands but no swirls, characteristic electric blue colour, anyway the sun was still far enough down not to be able to illuminate stratospheric dust. Bright twilight arch was faintly coloured orange/red/purple (by volcanic dust?) but much interference from tropospheric cloud during the "volcanic sunset/rise" period.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on July 05, 2009, 01:40:38 pm
Observed display in the early morning between 03-00/04-00 hrs.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/huleuh.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/md2m1w.jpg)

jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 05, 2009, 01:52:24 pm
Great images Jonathan, I love the shot with the car trail, very cool looking  :)

I can confirm your observation Brian. NLC display was poor during the evening but before dawn it turned out rather nice as a type 3 brightness display over 20 degrees high with veil, small scale whirls, very faint herringbone, and IIb bands casting their shadows onto the veil higher up. The bands looked more like ridges or fine folds in a blanket. Watched it until 03.30 BST but didn't take any images.

At sunrise I observed a very colourful volcanic dust display, a strange pink-red colour with structure and rays. Again, I didn't take images because I was knackered so just a visual observation. Quite an exciting 24 hours with thunderstorms, volcanic dust displays, and NLCs. The night sky was interesting also with a nice ISS pass which was chased by a supply vessel. Observed two flares which may have been a spy sat cluster very close to Jupiter moving in a vertical line down towards the planet which looked incredible!. Some meteor activity observed also. The nights are getting noticably darker that's for sure.



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 05, 2009, 06:23:30 pm
This was the view from my back door at 03:15BST!
(http://i39.tinypic.com/2ldfx48.jpg)
And a short time later.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/26213kp.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on July 05, 2009, 08:55:50 pm
What a nice delicate NLC structure you had there last night!  :)

Today, after a long break I've seen an NLC report from Sumy (200km N from Poltava) of Jul.03 evening. And here the sky was cloudy with rain.  :(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 05, 2009, 11:41:55 pm
Thanks Roman.

This is another one from this morning, and I found this very interesting because of the large patch of wavy structure that stretched right up to the zenith. It stayed there until the sky got to bright and it was drowned out. This is looking roughly NNE and the bright star above the house is Capella.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/1z6wrjk.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Padraig OBrien on July 06, 2009, 10:42:19 am
there was some gorgous views this morning at around half three images later
(http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/pad199207/P06-07-09_0339.jpg)
(http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/pad199207/P06-07-09_0344.jpg)

these were taken at half three this morning sorry the picture not great quality but these are my first pics of NLC


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on July 06, 2009, 04:18:08 pm
Keep imaging them Padraig!  :)

IMHO in that case you should choose smaller ISO value and several times longer exposure.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Padraig OBrien on July 06, 2009, 04:28:25 pm
Thanks for that Roman ive reduced to 800 it was 1200 i was amazed at this mornings show the images i got dont show anything like the real thing you know?


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 08, 2009, 05:14:04 pm
There was another display here last night (thanks Jonathan for the call) which started about midnight and then died somewhat. However, at 02:45BST I noticed quite a few bands in the NE and decided to go runabout! Nomatter where I went I couldn't seem to get shelter from the strong breeze shaking the tripod but did get a few passable shots. The image below was taken at 03:09BST. That's Venus in the midst of the NLC's,while directly above just below the cloud is the Pleiades and to the right between the two is Mars.
(http://i28.tinypic.com/3162c6b.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 08, 2009, 05:17:34 pm
Great shots all of you! :D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 11, 2009, 05:37:03 pm
Spotted very weak NLC display last night from 00.30-02.30 BST, it was a very sorry affair and no more than 5-7 degrees altitude at its highest. Type 3 bightness with bands and small scale whirls, white in colour. Observed in a clear but murky sky.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 12, 2009, 09:27:21 am
Glad you're managing to sneak some observations in Martin.  This year, from a personal point of view, is one of my worse years in terms of number of displays seen - combination of weather, various factors I guess...  Still, there's still a bit more life left in the season yet so hopefully I should see a few more  ::)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 12, 2009, 11:13:29 pm
OMG, what a monster display!!, it's even in the south.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on July 12, 2009, 11:24:50 pm
Yes they are back i took these pictures at 12-07-2009 around 23:50 :)

Enjoy ;)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/64.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/69.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/73.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 12, 2009, 11:27:24 pm
OMG, what a monster display!!, it's even in the south.

Oh yes!  I can confirm the same from west mids, it's a beast!  8)

Various observations confirmed from various places in europe too!

If you're reading this, and it's clear where you are, get yourself outside and check it out!

Best for a good couple of weeks!  ;D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on July 13, 2009, 12:13:23 am
Good shots Mark... It was a beauty tonight, (20 miles from the south coast)...

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_7451.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_7455.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/IMG_7457.jpg)

and a couple of 3 pan Pano's
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/NLC_Panorama1.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/NLC_Panorama2.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg118/johns_bucketofphotos/astro/nlc/NLV_Panorama3.jpg)



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 13, 2009, 01:18:44 am
Those are great shots guys, I'm just in from my shoot. It's still there and may probably come back before dawn so keep watching!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 13, 2009, 02:37:55 am
Beautiful images Mark and John!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 13, 2009, 04:32:38 am
Very bright extensive display, went down almost to the horizon at local midnight (0120 BST), lots of interference from tropospheric cloud in the morninig twilight but NLC obviously still present.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on July 13, 2009, 12:18:27 pm
Great images guys!  :)

Jul. 10/11 22:00-22:30 EEST - first display from Poltava in 2 weeks.
AZI 300-355, max altitude 15°,
brightness max 1.5, types: IIa, IVb
(http://i31.tinypic.com/10hn7zp.jpg)

There was another brighter display seen from Kirovograd (link (http://www.astroclub.kiev.ua/forum/index.php?topic=1638.msg113547#msg113547)) and Kharkov last night (Jul.12/13), but I was clouded out...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on July 13, 2009, 12:21:21 pm
What a display folks really bright blue and great structure as well.
(http://i28.tinypic.com/11ccoqb.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/29p9ez6.jpg)

jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 13, 2009, 02:49:57 pm
That was one stunning display of NLC's last night, here's just one image from the many I took showing the detail. Great images Jonathan!
(http://i31.tinypic.com/1zc5xx.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on July 13, 2009, 02:53:02 pm
great images guys


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 13, 2009, 04:30:07 pm
Fantastic images all round!  8)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 13, 2009, 06:09:28 pm
Absolutely stunning images on here!!, I love those shots from Lightlord..excellent colour contrasts and a striking sense of scale  :)

A few from last night...

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2j4by93.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/z7jp0.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/vfe0s3.jpg)

(http://i27.tinypic.com/64j9sy.jpg)

(http://i32.tinypic.com/24w7l9k.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 13, 2009, 06:50:01 pm
Great images from the past several days gentlemen!!.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 13, 2009, 11:02:39 pm
Thanks very much Richard.

Another bright display is being reported over the UK tonight again. It's wall to wall cloud here so can't see anything just yet.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on July 13, 2009, 11:03:58 pm
Thanks guys. Cloud here also Martin.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 14, 2009, 03:41:15 pm
Nothing visible here last night because of cloud, but this formation was imaged at 03:43BST on the 13th. Venus and Mars are on the right.
(http://i27.tinypic.com/msg5ty.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 14, 2009, 04:47:41 pm
Richard be on the alert, NLCs have been spotted from Oregon last night...

http://spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=Dan-Earl-IMG_3596_1247562974.jpg


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 14, 2009, 06:21:34 pm
Thanks for the heads-up Martin. That's about 250 miles north but I'll definitly keep my eyes peeled for them tonight.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 14, 2009, 11:06:03 pm
No problem Richard  :)

Another massive NLC display being reported over the UK tonight. I'm clouded out here again.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Padraig OBrien on July 14, 2009, 11:13:29 pm
HUge display Martin down here at the moment very white this has to be the brightest ive seen so far hope you can see too


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on July 14, 2009, 11:42:20 pm
Ok here we go again straight from the netherlands :D

Date 14-07-2009

At around 22:42 local time this happened ;)

greetings lightlord ;)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/011.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/012.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/013.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/014.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/015.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/016.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/017.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/018.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/019.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jgs001 on July 14, 2009, 11:52:24 pm
Well caught LL. I got a brief glimpse through a cloud hole and it certainly looked spectacular... then the rain started up again and the hole vanished..


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 15, 2009, 12:00:33 am
Lovely images LL, I got the same as John, a small hole but it was enough to see it was a major display, it's cloudy now :'(


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 15, 2009, 01:28:45 am
Here's one of the three images I grabbed earlier of the display in that wee hole, looked to be quite a good one.
(http://i32.tinypic.com/14l5ybs.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on July 15, 2009, 02:19:24 am
Ill be watching tonight! I thought I might have seen them the other night but thought it impossible...we cap busted on the chase today so I need something good :D


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 15, 2009, 12:15:28 pm
Hi Tyler, sorry to hear about the bust chase in the heavily capped enviorment, I hate caps, they really kill the day. Did you get any images of the convection?. I see Mike H has caught NLCs last night, he's mentioned both of our names on his website which was very nice of him. I don't know if there has ever been NLCs from Nebraska before but I suspected this season would produce a display and I'm delighted to see they have finally made it that far south , shows what a special season this is. Keep an eye out tonight, I have been clouded out for the last two nights but hoping for clear spells tonight to see the shuttle transit and more NLCs. Good luck.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 15, 2009, 05:42:22 pm
With the sighting of NLC's in Northern Oregon on Monday evening, I was bound and determined to see something Tuesday night, even though I am 250 miles SW of the others. I had all but given up at about 22:07 PDT when I said the heck with it and took a couple of 30 second exposures and called it an evening. When I downloded my batch this morning I was very surprised to see that I indeed did capture some NLC's, unfortunately mostly behind trees. But I did capture them @ 42 degrees latitude. I will definitely be out at a different treeless location tonight weather permitting.

Original image

(http://i31.tinypic.com/2mgp5pt.jpg)

Very heavily cropped

(http://i31.tinypic.com/14xhuub.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on July 15, 2009, 05:56:25 pm
Great work Richard!! I was out watching too, but there were some clouds in my way from a spectacular display visible from where I was unfortunately I left to early to see them. I'll be out tonight as well, probably going to a dark sky location. Good Luck to everyone tonight and bring on the best display of the year tonight!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 15, 2009, 06:21:24 pm
Excellent stuff Richard, I can the NLCs no problem at all, very well defined and a great image. Congrats to all the US photographers for catching NLCs from so far south!. Keep watching...


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 15, 2009, 06:43:16 pm
Well done Richard, I knew some of you guys would hit the jackpot some of these nights. My body clock last night said have an early night but my instincts said stay up a while, so I went for a drive looking for sites! Boy am I glad I did, I was treated to this beautiful display before dawn which "almost" outshone Venus. This made up for what I couldn't see earlier. Venus Mars and the Pleiades are there also.
(http://i26.tinypic.com/b964ax.jpg)

(http://i27.tinypic.com/2n9ck74.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 17, 2009, 03:42:31 am
Clouds have just parted here before dawn. NLC display visible 25 degrees high and of type 4 brightness. Heads up to the US readers for later...maybe.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 20, 2009, 02:42:24 am
Nice short lived display here before midnight (19/20) which lasted for about an hour or so over in the NE. Thanks Jonathan for the heads-up. Got a few images here's one of them.
(http://i25.tinypic.com/262sisp.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 20, 2009, 04:16:00 am
... followed by an ASTOUNDING display in the dawn twilight, probably at its best about 0345 BST when it filled well over half of the sky, with a sharp edge parallel with the NW horizon at 45 degree elevation below which the cloud was absent - there was a bright patch in the south east at 25 degrees elevation, very bright ripples & glow in the north east passing right over the zenith fading gradually into "normal twilight" high in the south west. Didn't pay much attention till after 0330 as I was trying to observe Jupiter; I didn't bother trying to image the NLC as it would have been impossible to do it justice without a 180 degree fisheye camera.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 20, 2009, 04:47:25 am
What an awesome show!! especially when the crescent moon and venus where embedded within...amazing!!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 20, 2009, 08:27:12 am
Great pictures and reports there guys!  I missed the early morning didplay today as I was in the land of nod, seems it has been widely observed though.  I think I may have to go and observe the sun now to make up for missing Jupiter and the NLC  ;)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 20, 2009, 11:32:45 am
I saw and imaged the dawn show Brian it was amazing, I even tried a couple of simi-fisheye shots and it covered the whole sky reaching well over into the south. Even with the lens on 18mm I could only get some of it in. I had a good idea it would come back again before dawn so was waiting for it ;) Will post an image or two later. I also saw a nice volcanic sunrise just before the sun rose it was very striking.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: John9929 on July 20, 2009, 04:53:02 pm
A few from this morning's display. Very hard to pick from over 60 images, hope you like.
(http://i31.tinypic.com/2wgzkia.jpg)

(http://i26.tinypic.com/124vtvt.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/15gtc3m.jpg)

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2lxuvyq.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 20, 2009, 07:11:56 pm
A few from last night...

(http://i25.tinypic.com/whf6n8.jpg)

(http://i30.tinypic.com/1rrko0.jpg)

(http://i25.tinypic.com/1ep1l1.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/13yhy5s.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/of2bsk.jpg)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 20, 2009, 07:38:41 pm
Here's a video clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhRo6kAy_f8


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 20, 2009, 07:42:27 pm
Very nice images all. Beautiful with the crescent moon and Venus against the background NCL's. Thanks


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 23, 2009, 10:00:08 pm
In the latter part of last night (22nd) and the early hours of the morning today (23rd) there was decent auroral activity visible.  If you look at the historical POES data http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/Plots.html there were various points where the KP index touched 6.  I was wondering if any of you were out snapping NLCs and may have some sneaky aurora visible low down in their images?  Anybody?  ::)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 23, 2009, 11:21:46 pm
Hi Mark, I noticed on that night that the KP was at 6 and IMF was far south and knew there was a major aurora visible at that very time, unfortunately I was completely clouded out here all night. Had it been 24 hours earlier than I would have had it on camera...very annoying. It must have been a good display because it was imaged from Nebraska by Mike Hollingshead on the same night. For me, it was the 'display which got away'.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on July 25, 2009, 11:06:02 pm
There was a nice display last night i got these pics.
(http://i31.tinypic.com/2n88umf.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/24y8lqf.jpg)

jonathan.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on July 25, 2009, 11:35:32 pm
Very nice work Jonathan - you can see the night getiting darker hence the contrast increasing. SW.com?


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 26, 2009, 01:26:25 am
Great shots Jonathan, that second one is a beauty!!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 26, 2009, 01:49:53 am
Top shots!  8)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on July 27, 2009, 01:40:16 pm
I see one of Martin's early season shots is in Astronomy Now's gallery this month. Congrats Martin, good job!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 27, 2009, 04:20:28 pm
Those are great shots Dennis, #4 is my favorite!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 27, 2009, 06:40:32 pm
Thanks very much Paul, I got the magazine through the post last week.  :)

Lovely images Jonathan and Dennis!. The season will be drawing to a close soon so it will be interesting to see what will happen before it ends.


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 30, 2009, 03:44:00 pm
Great pics Dennis, I spotted yours in AN also Martin, congrats!

There can't be much left of this years season as you say, which is a shame, it see,ms to have gone quick!  Also seems to have been a prolific year for them  ::)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 30, 2009, 08:37:25 pm
Thanks Mark, yes the season must surely be drawing to a close very shortly, the last display I seen was on the night before last, it was faint and unimpressive, so that might be it for this year. Having said that I wouldn't be a surprised if a major display briefly appeared after sunset or before dawn on any of these nights...so still worth keeping watch.

This was/is the best NLC season I have ever seen in my life with truly breathtaking shows, so many type 5 displays, so many all-sky coverage, all with rich colours and awesome stucture. It has been a season I shall never forget and which all future seasons will be compared with. The 2010 NLC seasons has a lot to live up to....


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on August 06, 2009, 01:00:44 am
can i direct you all to Rainmaker, from Germanys, video summary of the 2009 season.  This is simply stunning and would wholeheartedly recommend you put aside the 8 minutes to see it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPSm3XUFK8

 8)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 06, 2009, 03:00:05 pm
Mark, thanks very much for sharing that. That is a spectacular presentation which is now added to my favourites  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 07, 2009, 09:50:25 pm
My last contribution to this season is the following NLC highlight video from N. Ireland covering June and July. Hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv0AwRuVgN8



Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on August 07, 2009, 10:10:38 pm
That is an excellent summary of this years season Martin!

You are certainly blessed with light pollution free skies where you are, certainly compared to where I am!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on August 07, 2009, 11:39:23 pm
That was an incredible video and music presentation Martin, thanks for all your time, effort, determination,and especially the many sleepless nights you had in reporting your many NCL sightings. That makes us who live at lower latitudes feel almost as if we were there. Thanks again!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 08, 2009, 07:49:17 pm
Thanks very much everyone for your kind comments  :)


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on August 15, 2009, 04:20:46 pm
NLC, Perseids AND aurora visible at the same time in Canada...

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=15&month=08&year=2009












...I'm jealous!  :P


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 15, 2009, 08:19:59 pm
Hi Mark, this has got my interest..I don't see any image showing all 3 though?. Where do I need to look on the SW link?


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 15, 2009, 08:27:43 pm
I see it now Mark, had to go back to the 14th to get the image since the update. cracker!!...that's elite stuff, a very lucky guy. Good to know there are NLCs still around!


Title: Re: 2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on August 15, 2009, 09:35:29 pm
Quote
NLC, Perseids AND aurora visible at the same time in Canada...
Interesting ... I was under the impression that aurorae & NLCs were mutually exclusive ...