An image of noctilucent clouds at 01:50am BST (00:50h UT) on 29-30 June 2007 from my garden in Conon Bridge.  These NLCs were rated as 4 on the brightness-scale.  NLC forms: all types were visible here I, II, III, and IV.  Maximum elevation was about 50°.  Fourteen images were taken from NW through to ENE with a Canon 400D using 5sec, ISO 200, f/4.0, fl=18mm then combined and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS and Neat Image.

European NLC sightings in 2007

Panoramic View from North West through to East North East



Due North


East North East



Panoramic View from North West through to North North East (0001h UT)

An image of noctilucent clouds at 00:20am (BST) on Thursday 13 July 2006 from my garden in Conon Bridge.  These NLCs were rated as 3 on the brightness-scale (NLC clearly visible: standing out sharply against the twilight sky).  NLC forms: all types were visible here I, II, III, and IV.  Maximum elevation was about 50°.  Four images were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700 using a wide-angle adapter, 4sec, ISO 100, F/2.8 then combined and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS and Neat Image.

European NLC sightings in 2006

An image of noctilucent clouds at 00:01am (BST) on Saturday 08 July 2006 from my front garden in Conon Bridge.  These NLCs were rated as 3 on the brightness-scale (NLC clearly visible: standing out sharply against the twilight sky).  NLC forms: Type IIIa (waves with short, narrow streaks), Type IVc (large scale whirls).  Maximum elevation was about 50°. Image was taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700 using a wide-angle adapter, 2sec, ISO 100, F/2.8 and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS and Neat Image.

European NLC sightings in 2006

The next image was taken 20 minutes later at 00:20am (BST) on Saturday 08 July 2006 and is a combined panoramic view looking NNW through to E.  These NLCs were rated as 3-4 on the brightness-scale (NLC clearly visible: standing out sharply against the twilight sky, or very bright: and attracting the attention of casual observers).  NLC forms: Type I (veil), Type IIa & IIb (bands with both diffuse, blurred edges and sharply defined edges)Type IVb (simple curve whirls), and  Type IVc (large scale whirls).  Maximum elevation was about 60°. Four images were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700 using a wide-angle adapter, 4sec, ISO 100, F/2.8 then combined and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS and Neat Image.

An image of noctilucent clouds at 1:00am (BST) on Monday 01 July 2006 from my front garden in Conon Bridge looking ENE.  NLC forms: Type IIa & b, Type IIIa.  Image was taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700, 8sec, ISO 200, F/3.7 and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS and Neat Image.

12 July 2005

An image of noctilucent clouds at 1:00am (BST) on Monday 12 July 2005 from my back garden in Conon Bridge. It doesn't get very dark this far north at this time of the year, the Sun is only a few degrees below the horizon.

 

The clouds are N to ENE and you can see bright Capella to the right of the image.

You can clearly see three of the four main types of NLC - bands (left), waves (slightly left of centre), and whirls (right).

The image was taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700, 4sec, ISO 200, F/2.8 and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS.

European NLC sightings in 2005

08 July 2004

The sight was awesome: the brightest, almost fluorescent, banner of cloud I have seen! I now know I have definitely seen noctilucent cloud (NLC).

At 2:00am BST (01:00h UT) I took some images using a Nikon Coolpix 5700 and have chosen this one (top image) as it is the nearest representation to what I actually saw. The picture, to be honest, doesn't do justice to seeing it for real.

The lower images were taken one hour earlier when I first looked out my back window and the skies to the north were brighter than I expected.

I noticed this very bright cloud formation in the distance which looked pretty high up in the sky.  I took a few shots with my Nikon Coolpix 5700 and combined a few of them here.

In the upper foreground there was some low "dark grey" cloud blocking the view beyond it. You can see the orangey sunset-type glow right on the horizon. Capella is the bright star to the upper right of the chimney in photo 2 and also in photo 3.

You can view more NLCs on SpaceWeather.com here.