[Dave Hancox]

Noctilucent Cloud Thread 2012
Nlc's usually appear from mid May to mid August.They are a very interesting subject to view in the night sky and a great subject for photography.There is a specific range of latitude they are visible from normally 50-65° North and about 82km in height
Noctilucent (Night Shining is a loose Latin Translation)o An indication of the formation of NLC's is when the Mesosphere temperature drops to about -140°C at about 82KM altitude . (Example Dalmellington, Ayrshire August 2011 Capella Being The Bright Star)0 The Bright Star Capella in the constellation Auriga its the third brightest star in the Northern hemisphere and is a good guide for where to look for NLC's0 Heavens Above Star chart Click Here

Types of NLC's Clouds
Type 1: Veil – A simple structureless sheet, sometimes as background to other forms.0 Type 2: Bands – Lines or streaks, parallel or crossing at small angles.0 Type 3: Waves – Fine herring-bone structure like the sand ripples on a beach at low tide. Very characteristic of NLC.0 Type 4: Whirls – Large-scale looped or twisted structures.0 Type 5: Amorphous – Isolated patches of NLC with no definite structure
Photography
ISO 200-400, 10-20 secs F2.8
The above settings are a rough guide only and experimentation is recommended
So happy hunting for the 2012 season and look forward to the photographs and reports.

Links
NLC Observers Forum - 2012 - Sightings
http://www.popastro....louds/index.php0 NASA NLC Informationhttps://www.facebook...=wall&filter=12 0 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aim/0 http://www.thenakeds...interview/2020/0 http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/fact-files/atmosphere/noctilucent-clouds

[Halo]

Without putting the mockers on, hopefully, what will turn out to be a good NLC season, I would like to ask if observers can also make negative sightings as well as it gives an more complete and fuller picture of each night,and also to paint a more complete picture on how the season is faring. It is often said that a NLC season tends to be poorer during the period of solar maximum but we will see...

[Dave Hancox]

Good point Halo, If anyone see's A link for the Mesosphere radar could they also post it here.

[Dave Hancox]

Report of faint NLC's here early hours this morning low in the NW. Here's hoping for some bright and extensive displays this year.

https://www.facebook...199329523453711

[Halo]

One from Russia it seems

http://www.mcewan.co...nlc/nlcreps.htm

[Halo]

By the way a mesospheric radar link is below if that's the one requested:

http://www.iap-kborn...456.0.html?&L=0

[Halo]

...and finally all observations during the early hours over the latter part of last week, including this morning (27 May) are negative. But it is still only late May of course.

[Dave Hancox]

NLC reports have been coming in this month from various locations in Scotland, Wales and as far south as Germany. Most sightings are between midnight and 2am. Still low on the horizon so worth keeping an eye out for photo ops. Post any sightings here. Over the last few nights a band of cloud on the horizon here has prevented any sightings.

[Andy Mayhew]

Unfortunately clouded over where I was (near Harlech) last night so no chance to look for nocties. Every other night whilst I was away was also overcast.

[kevin paxton]

I think there might be a small amount of ncl to my northeast approx 8 to 10 dig above horizon anyone north of newcastle may be able to confirm

[kevin paxton]

sure this was my first sighting of ncls this year small area of band structure to my northeast only 8to 10 dig above horizon visible 00.30 til about 01.15 my location north of newcastle on northeast coast

[Halo]

I shall also need confirmation on a possible noctilucent sighting between 0115Z-0130Z 20 June 2012, a faint patch roughly to the north-northeast not exceeding 5 degrees. Difficult to detect much structure but the upper limit did have a sharp definite edge through binoculars. There seemed to be a faint amorphous veil of type I to the north (in the respect that the twilight looked whitish) as well assuming other reports are available to help to confirm my sighting.

[kevin paxton]

noctilucent clouds were very visible at this time halo,they were low on my north east horizon ,however at 01.45 the cloud brightened more to my east,with bands and mackeral effect,got a couple of pics. as i dont know what im doing with manual exsposures on my di,gi not very good but you can see structure,went to bed 02.20 with clouds still visible to my northeast in pre dawn glow.my first sighting this year,now need a tripod and some night practice with camera as the night setting on my machine didnt seem to pick out the details

[Bazmundo]

There is also a report from Anglesey for last night here: http://www.nlcnet.co.uk/, with earlier reports from Netherlands, Lithuania and Poland.

[Halo]

The observer's second image (Anglesey) resembles closely what I saw so will take that as confirmation.

[kevin paxton]

another picture taken this morning about 02.15 looking east northeast

[Flatlander]

Something nocti-ish visible at the moment. Needs the lower clouds to clear a bit here.

This post has been edited by Tim Prosser: 20 June 2012 - 22:11

[Bazmundo]

Tim Prosser, on 20 June 2012 - 22:01, said:

Something nocti-ish visible at the moment. Needs the lower clouds to clear a bi here.

Too much cloud down here, but definitely something bright on the Durham Phys dept webcam: http://www.dur.ac.uk...ab/webcam2.html

[Dave Hancox]

Went out for a look here Tim clouded over I'm afraid.

[Halo]

Good confirmation of my sighting based on the Anglesey, Kevin's observation+image, and outside sources.

The cloud unexpectedly broke before midnight BST (21 June 2012) although, as you would expect, altocumulus persisted near the northern horizon. I couldn't see anything between 2215Z-2245Z. It was raining during the small hours.

It does seem that so far displays have been weak, unextensive, and low over the horizon thus far, even though there has been widespread cloud cover in the UK so we will have to wait and see.