Noctilucent clouds just before dawn over Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, Wales, UK Credit: Janet Baxter/Alamy Live News
Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in the Earth's atmosphere forming above 200,000 ft. They are formed of small ice crystals. These silvery white, wispy clouds become visible in the night sky when they are lit by the sun below the horizon. You do not always need dark skies to see them, good displays may shine through light pollution. Noctilucent clouds are usually seen at latitudes between 45°N and 80°N in the Northern Hemisphere, start looking for them towards the north western, northern and north eastern horizons about an hour after sunset. The best sightings in the UK are from late May and early August. Although generally unpredictable best conditions for viewing are usually on clear, summer nights, just after sunset and before sunrise.
Size: 5111px × 3408px
Location: Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
Photo credit: © Janet Baxter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: aberdyfi, britain, cloud, clouds, dawn, europe, gwynedd, mesosphere, mesospheric, meteorology, noctilucent, polar, sky, spectacular, twilight, uk, wales, weather
