First noctilucent clouds (NLCs) of 2009 have been sighted over northern Europe.
This image shows one of the first ground sightings of noctilucent clouds in the 2007 season. Credit: Veres Viktor of Budapest, Hungary taken on June 15, 2007.
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. - from spaceweather.com
A daily snapshot of noctilucent cloud activity over the
North Pole in 2007. Click on the image to set the scene in motion.
Credit: AIM/Goddard Space Flight Center
Questions to be answered.
AIM has just received a 3-year extension (from 2009 to 2012) to continue its studies. "We believe that more time in orbit and more data are going to help us answer these questions," says Thomas.
Meanwhile, it's a beautiful mystery. Just ask anyone at the edge of space.
This image shows one of the first ground sightings of noctilucent clouds in the 2007 season. Credit: Veres Viktor of Budapest, Hungary taken on June 15, 2007.
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. - from spaceweather.com
A daily snapshot of noctilucent cloud activity over the
North Pole in 2007. Click on the image to set the scene in motion.
Credit: AIM/Goddard Space Flight Center
Questions to be answered.
- Why did NLCs first appear in the 19th century?
- Why are they spreading?
- What is ice doing in a rarefied layer of Earth's upper atmosphere that is one hundred million times dryer than air from the Sahara desert?
AIM has just received a 3-year extension (from 2009 to 2012) to continue its studies. "We believe that more time in orbit and more data are going to help us answer these questions," says Thomas.
Meanwhile, it's a beautiful mystery. Just ask anyone at the edge of space.
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