Astronomy, Photography and Weather

General Category => Weather & Atmospherics => Topic started by: martinastro on May 17, 2011, 03:18:25 pm



Title: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 17, 2011, 03:18:25 pm
It's that time of year again so a new thread has been started to share your NLC images, videos, reports, comments, thoughts, links, and alerts. Please post all NLC related imagery in this thread so we can keep things tidy and have a nice resource to look back on. With increased solar activity this season is not expected to be a good one however these night shining clouds are very unpredictable so no one knows what to expect which will make the NLCs of 2011 even more exciting. The typical season runs from late May to early August so the first displays are likely any night now so keep an eye on the twilight sky after sunset and again before dawn. Good luck and clear skies  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on May 17, 2011, 10:17:35 pm
Thanks for the heads-up Martin and for the additional information via your website, I shall be certainly observing each night in hope, I have never witnessed NLC before not sure my home location is suitable though.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on May 18, 2011, 07:02:39 am
I've been looking every clear night (of which there haven't been many!) since the end of April, and there's been nothing.   I want to be personally more active this years season, various reasons last year meant I didn't see many NLC. 

If you're after a heads up as to whether anything is visible or not there is the NLC forum http://nlcnet.proboards.com/index.cgi   Sightings can also be reported here if you wish http://www.kersland.plus.com/nlcreps.htm

I am informed that we should have the radar temperature data available within a couple of days which should give us a rough indication of when we might expect the season to kick off!  As soon as I know anything I will pass the info on.

All you need location wise Anton is somewhere with a decent NW to NE horizon...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on May 25, 2011, 07:11:12 am
Another lovely clear night last night (24th), sadly no NLC visible yet, however the twilight arch looks glorious!  Not long now!!!  ;)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on May 28, 2011, 09:49:33 am
First sighting of the season from Russia http://nlcnet.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=2011nlc&action=display&thread=648&page=1

Time to start looking when the skies finally clear!

*edit* also confirmed from Denmark and Moscow...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 29, 2011, 11:00:55 am
Goof stuff Mark, it's game on now. Also clouded out for last night's aurora too.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on May 30, 2011, 10:14:42 am
Alan Tough got photos of NLC visible from Scotland.  Game on indeed!   ;D  ;D  ;D


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 30, 2011, 11:01:15 am
Brilliant!, I was clouded out last night but good to know Alan was got one.....certainly game on  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on May 31, 2011, 12:50:02 am
Poor conditions tonight with some high cloud & lumps of decaying shower cloud but NLC positive at 2330 (May 30th) - a smooth band / arc about 3 deg high in the north, less high to the west & east of north, the arc is about 2 deg in height. Very faint indication of rays from the northern horizon stretching up towards Cassiopeia but I think these are high cloud (cirrostratus) illuminated by twilight rather than auroral in nature.

Edit: Hmmm, reviewing images I'm no longer so sure ... maybe the arc is just shadowing by cirrostratus. Judge for yourself.
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2011/May/30/IMG_2268.jpg)
2011 May 30, 2334 UT.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Paul on May 31, 2011, 09:12:17 am
(http://niphotography.co.uk/images/nlc110531.jpg)

31/05/11 0118 UT 4 sec f4.5 ISO 800

Faint, but it's a start!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on May 31, 2011, 03:32:23 pm
I was at the north coast last night all night long and saw no NLCs at all, however there was a slight enhancement to the twilight above the horizon however that looked normal to me. I saw the streaks too, they were distant cirrostratus drawn into streaks by the jet stream and their shadowing generated that enchancement. Lovely sky last night all the same. Cool images by the way guys which really show that variation in brightness extremely well  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on May 31, 2011, 05:31:23 pm
Nice images guys!  I think in Brians it's the twilight arch in cirrus, though does appear to be something faint in Pauls.  I'm on the north coast of Norfolk atm, bout 100yards from the beach.  Today has been gloriouslly sunny and tonight promises to be clear.  Camera is charged so will be heading off down to see what I can see after sunset...  Fingers crossed for something good tonight and in the nights ahead with this high pressure that has developed...  ::)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on June 01, 2011, 10:00:51 pm
Having seen NLC's for the first time last year I'll definitely be  on the look out this time and will recognise them this time too.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2011, 03:06:23 am
Just saw my 1st NLC display of the season, and quite nice it was too, 01.09 - > 03.00 BST, type 3 brightness, with band (II) and wave structure (III), 20 deg high and 100 deg in azimuth from N to NE through Auriga, Perseus, Aries, Pisces. Images taken.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 03, 2011, 04:14:24 am
Yes Martin, a corker of a display to start off the season, heres a quick wide angle image-more tomorrow

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT1for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 03, 2011, 04:41:28 am
Spectacular image to start things of Paul!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2011, 09:45:12 am
Absolutely beautiful image Paul  :)

Saw my first display of the season last night, June 2nd/3rd, and a really nice early season display it was too!. 01.09 - >03.00 BST, 20 deg high, 100 degrees in azimuth, type 3 brightness, IIab and III structure.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/v33mec.jpg)

(http://i51.tinypic.com/dqps84.jpg)

(http://i53.tinypic.com/ay7p0i.jpg)

(http://i55.tinypic.com/1z6v969.jpg)

(http://i56.tinypic.com/2ni2l45.jpg)

(http://i52.tinypic.com/iokb51.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 03, 2011, 10:21:10 am
Lovely image Paul!  I missed this one - dang!  was fast asleep!  ::)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on June 03, 2011, 12:16:12 pm
Lovely display, was not really sure if it was going to happen at all and should go to bed but surely did. Too images at the beautiful Lough Talt and Charlestown Co Mayo, also took a fixed tripod image of Milky Way even got the stars of Saggatirus (The Teapot) reflected on the lake. 

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/NocClouds004.jpg)


(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/NocClouds011.jpg)



(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/NocClouds014.jpg)

Ronan Newman



Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 03, 2011, 03:23:05 pm
Great shots all!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 03, 2011, 05:45:29 pm
Thanks guys.

Cracking shots Martin and Ronan, Martin i like the portrait one

Heres a few more from last night

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT4for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT3for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT7for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT8for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NOCT10for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2011, 05:53:29 pm
Thanks everyone  :)

Paul, beautiful selection of images, you got really nice structure there and all captured from a great viewpoint. I really like the shot of the road in the foreground lit by the car headlights  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 03, 2011, 09:53:41 pm
You guys have got some fantastic shots I have to say!  I just hope tonight is as fruitful, worth keeping an eye on Spaceweather aswell this evening and over the weekend, they're forecasting a 45% chance of geomagnetic activity.  Would be a lovely bonus, a nice green auroral arc crowned off with NLC...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 03, 2011, 11:01:33 pm
P.S.

Congrats on your pics on Spaceweather too Martin and Paul!   ;)  8)  ;D


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 03, 2011, 11:57:46 pm
Thanks Mark - and congrats Paul  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 04, 2011, 02:26:54 pm
Congrats to you too Martin  ;D and thanks Mark, sadly cloud rolled in last night just after sunset.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on June 04, 2011, 10:27:06 pm
Looks like a very good start -  all lovely images including yours,Paul. You seem to do well over there for NLC's. I'll wait till I've finished all this editing, there's a lot to do and it can leave me quite tired but plenty of ops. for NLC's to come I'm, sure.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on June 05, 2011, 07:37:50 pm
Well you have all captured some brilliant shots and hopefully you will bag more, so far Ive not seen any but I shall carryon observing. 


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on June 11, 2011, 02:22:40 am
In Keeping with the NCL thread another display tonight June 11, 01.00, looked like it was going to be big and bright but not to be, but photogenic either way.

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/Nocpan-1.jpg)

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/Nocpan2-1.jpg)

Ronan


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on June 11, 2011, 03:02:40 am
Was just going to bed and looked out and WOW!, I'm sure this has been seen around the country tonight, such a brilliantly bright display, looed a bit like a mushroom cloud with all its structure.


(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/NOCPAN3.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 11, 2011, 04:12:56 am
Great images, bet you're glad you looked out the window one more time!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 11, 2011, 09:58:50 am
Excellent images!  I did look out for them but cloudy where I am...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on June 12, 2011, 11:04:08 am
Some great structure in this NCL, this hook shape was also photographed  from Wales from a different angle.

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/Noc1.jpg)

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/Noc2.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 14, 2011, 04:09:24 am
Quick one before a few hours shut eye.

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCLM1for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 14, 2011, 07:15:21 am
Very nice Paul, I was looking just before bed around midnight and wondering, problem is from my light polluted, horizon restricted city scape it's difficult to be sure...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on June 14, 2011, 10:00:25 am
Thats cool Paul.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 14, 2011, 10:17:42 am
Quite a nice display last night, with the Sun so far north the NLC was noticeable even at local midnight. The best display seemed to be around 0115 - 0130 UT after which the brightening twilight robbed the NLC of its full splendour.

The main display here was just to the west of north, with no activity east of Capella. Time lapse images show the NLC moving at an apparently fairly slow rate from NE to SW. Three sample images:

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2011/June/14/IMG_0007.jpg)

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2011/June/14/IMG_0023.jpg)

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2011/June/14/IMG_0038.jpg)

Canon 40D, 17mm, ISO 400, various exposures (8 sec to 5 sec) at f/5.6 (evaluative auto exposure used)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 14, 2011, 11:16:38 am
Paul, awesome image, it was really worth the effort going to the lake last night, the reflection is absolutely perfect, really love this image. Bet the atmosphere was amazing with the moon up too. Congrats on a great shoot.  :)

Brian, nice image, I was wondering what the view from the coast was like, wish I had been there.

A nice display on June 13th/14th visible from 01.01 - 02.15 BST, it was visible for longer than this but I called it a night at the latter. Type 3 brightness, 15 degs high, +100 degs in azimuth, NW to N sectors with subtle blue and pearly white colour. Very nice whirls, waves, knots, and bands on view. Great atmosphere standing in a field watching them creep below Capella while the golden near-full Moon illuminated the the land in it's soft warm light behind me.

(http://i55.tinypic.com/a2zpt5.jpg)

(http://i56.tinypic.com/efqlg0.jpg)

(http://i51.tinypic.com/1zcomyx.jpg)

I was gonna post a couple more but tinypic has me in a rage!!!  >:(


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 14, 2011, 11:54:26 am
Great additions guys!  Pauls pics reflect the closest what I saw...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 14, 2011, 11:08:07 pm
Thanks all, a great little find this lake i must say and to think its only 10 miles away and last night was my first time there (shame on me).  The combination of moonlight, mist hanging over the water and the NLC made for a wonderful experience.   Heres a few more..

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCLM4for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCLM3for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCLM2for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCLMfor.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on June 15, 2011, 12:39:50 am
Wonderful images everyone, all I can do is dream about them!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 15, 2011, 02:21:45 am
Those images are stunning Paul, it really is hard to top NLCs and reflections on water, top quality photography!. I really love the first and last images, I can see the craftmanship in the 11mm lens. Congats on a stunning night's shooting. We will definitely need to meet up sometime.  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 16, 2011, 12:43:51 pm
Two from the morning of the 16th June

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCGG3for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/NLCGG2for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 16, 2011, 03:43:09 pm
A few from last night at Toome bridge....

(http://i52.tinypic.com/4vojdx.jpg)

(http://i51.tinypic.com/15odzd1.jpg)

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2wej447.jpg)



Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 16, 2011, 04:32:20 pm
Beautiful images!!!   8) 8) 8)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 16, 2011, 05:09:43 pm
Very nice images Martin, love that location and the bridge  ;)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on June 16, 2011, 06:26:00 pm
Now guys your all making me envious looking at these fine images I’m either in the wrong location or I need to go to spec savers not seen any yet  :'(

Well done all great pictures.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 20, 2011, 11:27:34 pm
Only getting a chance to post these up now, this is the morning of he 18th June taken around 03:00. I had consumed a few beers earlier in the night so couldnt get to a scenic location, these taken in my front garden from town. Quite an extensive display and quite bright towards the horizon.

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH3for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH1for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH4for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on June 20, 2011, 11:39:56 pm
Well I’m proud of you Paul even with beer glasses on you obtain perfect focus and great captures too. Love the first image with the overhanging trees and the post and rail fence looks perfect framing


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on June 20, 2011, 11:41:07 pm
 What a wonderful set of images - I've just been back through the thread - it looks like a good season so far .That bridge photo is a great shot,Martin and your photos,Paul are really impressive too - being up at 3.00am  to photograph them is impressive in itself as far as I'm concerned Lol.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 21, 2011, 07:09:38 am
It is great to see how this thread evolves and how the images keep rolling in.   I've only had a couple of views that hint at NLC this season, my northern horizon is rubbish - the weather hasn't been ideal either.  Still, hope it will improve before too long.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on June 21, 2011, 10:39:16 pm
No improvement  this week, ,Mark. It's been awful  here for sky viewing lately and more overcast skies to come..you'd expect better in mid-June.You'll have to move house so you get a good northern aspect   ;D


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on June 21, 2011, 11:47:36 pm
Lovely images Paul, really like the composition with the fence and framing with the trees, the warm and cold contrasting colours are very effective  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on June 28, 2011, 12:02:56 am
Yes finally i got some ;)

It all begun around 23:30pm till 00:30pm local time.

I'm from the netherlands.

It was very hard to see it from my city (Helmond) but i got some  ;D

(http://www.lightlord.nl/21.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/22.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/23.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/24.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/25.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/26.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/27.jpg)

(http://www.lightlord.nl/28.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on June 28, 2011, 02:19:16 am
Thanks all for the comments.  :)

Very nice images lightlord, a great result from your location :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 28, 2011, 03:10:41 am
Jun 27/28: Sky clear!!! NLC negative.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on June 28, 2011, 06:39:32 pm
Excellent photos both. I assume Holland must be on the edge of the southerly reach to see them (50-70 degrees north)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on June 28, 2011, 08:10:15 pm
Very nice images, still no proper views for me this NLC season...


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on June 29, 2011, 01:54:44 am
Jun 28/29: Much interference from tropospheric cloud (socked in completely from 0030 UT) but NLC seen, a bright band low on the northern horizon from 2300 to 2315, more extended but fainter swirls & bands in the NNW gradually fading from 2345 onwards.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on June 29, 2011, 11:04:39 am
Faint swirls & bands in the NNE close to Jupiter last night June 28/29

Ronan Newman

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/004.jpg) 


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: lightlord on July 02, 2011, 11:12:52 pm
I just got a tiny tiny display.
It wasnt much but atleast i got it on photo ;)

The netherlands, city Helmond around 23:50pm local time.

(http://www.lightlord.nl/29.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 03, 2011, 02:39:03 am
July 02/03: Very bad interference from "nasty low cloud" but from 0100 - 0130 UT there was obvious NLC, exceptionally bright swirls visible through & between patches of stratocumulus to an altitude of 20 degrees between North by West and North North East (solid cloud to the west of that).


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on July 03, 2011, 12:33:39 pm
The best display i have ever seen last night started around 23-45 and lasted all through till dawn i packed up at 03-30.
here are a few images i took
(http://i52.tinypic.com/1j2mav.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/291pe6b.jpg)
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2pzwjsl.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/u2btz.jpg)

regards jonathan.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on July 03, 2011, 02:58:24 pm
Amazing photos and wonderful structure.Where were they taken?


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: paulster78 on July 03, 2011, 03:34:06 pm
Absolute stunners Jonathan! annoying low cloud here on the northern horizon until around 02:30 when it started to shift. A few images here taken at home over the rooftops with pesky tv aerials on view, but a beauty of a display none the less.

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH5for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH6for.jpg)

(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/paulster78/Noctilucent%20Cloud%202011/NLCH7for.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: jjb on July 03, 2011, 07:03:42 pm
Thanks paul and roman it was unfornuate you had pesky cloud to deal with paul especially when it was clouds you where interested in !!!!
no.2 image is taken from portmuck looking up the north channel and the points of light are the maidens light house,carrickfergus castle is the last two images roman i wonder if the inhabidents of it centuries ago witness similar displays?


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 03, 2011, 11:24:01 pm
Superb images all round!  8)

Keep em' coming!  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on July 04, 2011, 09:52:57 am
Stunning images everyone ! A great display, looks a good year then.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: RN1 on July 06, 2011, 11:09:43 am
July 6th, Small but bright display in contrast to the weekend show, webpage not showing full picture as further part of display to the right

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/IMG_2565.jpg)

(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee501/Ronan_Newman/IMG_2554.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on July 06, 2011, 09:03:54 pm
Nice capture - I'd have been tempted to crop out  half the black foreground. Where are you  btw ? No location under your name.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 10, 2011, 03:16:46 am
Unexpected mostly clear night with bright NLC in the NNE (stretching from NNW to just E of NE). Substantial low cloud on the horizon but I managed to grab this shot:

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2011/July/10/IMG_0040.jpg)
Jul 10, 0144 UT. Canon 40D, 17mm, 2.5 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400.

The "bright" cloud stretching across the top of the frame is tropospheric cirrus cloud, probably a smeared contrail.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 10, 2011, 08:42:25 am
Nice shot Brian, I kept looking out last night till 3am, however I guess my urban skyscape hid the show behind the rooftops....


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on July 11, 2011, 12:26:53 am
It was a stunner Brian, saw it from the coast too, best I've seen since 2009, here's a shot of it over Dunluce Castle...

(http://i52.tinypic.com/2a9b6t0.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Anton on July 11, 2011, 01:37:08 pm
Awesome images well done all.

Thanks


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on July 11, 2011, 04:24:17 pm
Beautiful shots from all of you!


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Roman White on July 11, 2011, 08:44:34 pm
Hey guys,
Those are very good displays you've captured!  8)

First NLC was reported from Kyiv, Ukraine on July 10th morning. Still I see nothing from Poltava... pity to tell you, I am rarely able to do it at dawn this year.  :-\


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 24, 2011, 03:53:45 am
Clear sky from midnight on last night (Jul 22/23) and partially clear especially on the northern horizon tonight (Jul 23/24). No trace of NLC detected.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on July 24, 2011, 08:22:26 pm
I'm having no luck at all this NLC season :(


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: brianb on July 27, 2011, 03:38:51 am
Jul 26/7 - clear all night & pretty transparent, in fact it almost went dark!!!  NLC negative again. Season over?


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 02, 2011, 04:28:23 pm
Haven't see any NLCs since July 9th/10th which is shocking, however this is more to do with cloud cover than anything else. The season will soon be ending so fingers crossed for another good one before it's over for another year. The best display of 2011 so far for me was on July 9th/10th, Roisin and I spent the night at the north coast watching it glowing over the sea and the infamous 17th century ruins of Dunluce Castle which made for a fantastic NLC experience. Here's a detailed report on my site with many more images....

http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Dunluce%20Castle%20Noctilucent%20Clouds%20-%20July%2010th%202011.html


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on August 02, 2011, 09:20:15 pm
Thats a great report Martin! :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 03, 2011, 02:06:20 pm
Cheers Mark, haven't seen any more displays since then due to all the cloudy weather. I'm in aurora mode now  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on August 03, 2011, 05:50:44 pm
That's a novel, Martin-brilliant. You should write a book sometime. Great photos too. but what a shame the season is coming to an end,we've had far too much cloud cover this year.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 03, 2011, 06:25:23 pm
Thanks for the kind words John, a novel lol - that's a new one for me, I must take note of that for future inspiration. Pity the season is ending however one good thing ending often opens the door to some new good thing...and this time its aurora season  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: Tyler on August 04, 2011, 12:58:00 am
Hey folks, been a long while! I saw NLCs this year on two occasions. Night of July 1 and July 2 very early AM. only 5 hours inbetween observations. I've watched quite a few nights this year and it was nice for it to pay off! even though they were very dim/small displays. Here's one from July 2 at 420am. These were observed at 44 degrees north latitude.

(http://tonightssky.org/images/070211a.jpg)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: rjgjr on August 04, 2011, 03:19:13 am
Brilliant photographs Martin, and equally impressive narrative to combine the two, makes me feel as if I were there.

Good to see you have seen some NLC's at 44 N Tyler. They had some up around Portland ,OR probably about the same time, about the same latitude. I keep checking in on your website to follow what you're up to.


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: markt on August 04, 2011, 09:22:18 am
Good capture Tyler!  8)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: martinastro on August 04, 2011, 11:25:39 am
Thanks Richard for checking it out  :)

Tyler, congrats on the NLC captures, very nice wave structure there, brilliant to see NLCs appearing so far south in the US and I'm delighted you have ticked them off your list, now I'm sure you will be on full aurora alert on the nights ahead  :)


Title: Re: 2011 Noctilucent Cloud Season
Post by: JohnC on August 05, 2011, 08:09:34 am
Perseverance usually pays off,Tyler - nice capture.