2009 Noctilucent Cloud Season

[martinastro]

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!

[Roman White]

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

[John9929]

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!

[martinastro]

Consider it done 

[martinastro]

Anybody see anything suspicious tonight between 22.40 and 23.00?.

[Paul]

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.

[martinastro]

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...

[Tyler]

can't wait to see some of your guys' shots this summer!

[brianb]

Well I was looking Martin, but didn't see anything worth a closer look, just twilight.

Same here

[John9929]

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.

[martinastro]

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! 

[Roman White]

The season has started here! 

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


21:37


21:40


P.S. Nothing was seen on next evening.

[Paul]

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.

[brianb]

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.

[martinastro]

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.