2nd NLC sighting by CMHASD members
Last night at around 10.55pm BST – 27th June 2026 – several members got their 2nd sighting of rare Noctilucent Clouds (NLC).
The 1st two images are from Diane Clarke taken from Bexley.
The next 3 images are by Martin Crow – taken from Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.
This image was taken by Jim Burchell from Dartford.
The next 2 images were taken by John Archer from East Sussex.
Sun Pillar
A super example of a Sun Pillar taken by Martin Crow from Burham-on-Crouch, Essex on the 14th June 2026 using an iPhone.
”A light pillar or ice pillar is an atmospheric optical phenomenon in which a vertical beam of light appears to extend above and/or below a light source. The effect is created by the reflection of light from tiny ice crystals that are suspended in the atmosphere or that compose high-altitude clouds (e.g. cirrostratus or cirrus clouds). If the light comes from the Sun (usually when it is near or even below the horizon), the phenomenon is called a sun pillar or solar pillar. Light pillars can also be caused by the Moon or terrestrial sources, such as streetlights and erupting volcanoes.” Ref:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pillar
First Noctilucent Clouds spotted by Jim Burchell
The first sighting of Noctilucent clouds (NLC) by a CMHASD member this year was by member Jim Burchell in the early hours of the 9th June 2026. Below are 2 splendid photos Jim took of the NLC around 3am from Dartford, Kent. The photo on the right shows some fine detail of the NLC.
Then later that night on the 9th June around 10.50pmish they were spotted again by 2 other CMHASD members. Below is the photo taken of the NLC by Martin Crow from Burnham on Crouch in Essex.
Latest Atmospheric Optic images by members
Three stunning images of some Atmospheric Optics taken by members whilst out and about.
This superb image was taken by Honor Wheeler using a phone camera whilst walking in Surrey on the 22nd March 2026. The stunning image shows a Halo, Sundog, and Upper tangent arc.
This super image was taken by Janice McClean also using a phone camera on the 22nd March 2026 (Janice & Honor were on a walk together at the time) showing the Halo, Sundog and Upper tangent arc.
The Sundog is on the left of the photos and the Upper tangent arc is the white line going across the top of the halo (the circle).
A stunning image taken by Andrew Godden whilst on holiday in Malta on the 4th April 2026 using a phone camera of a Circumscribed halo with Parhelic circle.
Lunar Corona
A great image of a Lunar Corona and Jupiter taken by member Gary Hunt on the 27th February 2026.
Jupiter is the dot on the right hand side of the Moon at the 2 o’clock position.
Solar Halo’s by Jim Burchell
Two superb images of the same Solar Halo taken by Jim Burchell on the 17th February 2026.
Lunar Halo – 13th Dec 2025
Four fab Lunar Halo images. All taken on the night of the 13th Dec 2025.
By Martin Crow from Burham-On-Crouch.
By Gary Hunt taken from Isle of Sheppey.
By Honor Wheeler from Dartford.
By George Buckberry from Hextable.
NLC Season 2025
A super collection of Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) images and a timelapse video taken by CMHASD members during the months of June & July this year.
First we have the 23rd June 2025 where several members managed to capture the clouds.
Member Martin Crow using his iPhone; taken from Burnham-On-Crouch.
And finally a timelapse video of NLC on the 23rd June 2025 taken by member Honor Wheeler also from Dartford.
Member Jim Burchell also caught NLC on 3 more nights. These were taken on the 30th June 2025 from Dartford.
These on the 3rd July 2025 taken from Dartford.
And finally a stunning display on the 8th July 2025 taken from Swanley by Jim.
Stunning Sun dogs by Kevin Smith
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A stunning example of 2 Sun dogs captured by member Kevin Smith whilst on an early morning walk on the 10th Sept 2024.
A sun dog is also called a parhelion (plural parhelia) and is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both sides of the Sun. The sun dog is a member of the family of halos caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the atmosphere.
Astro-images from the 28th and a little bit of the 29th June 2024
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.
A lovely selection of images from Society members.
First two superb images are of the Sun and Moon taken by Jim Burchell on the 28th.
Next are a selection of fantastic images of the Noctilucent Cloud that put in an appearance during the night of the 28th/29th June. It turned out to be quite a stunning display as you will see 🙂
First set of images are from our Chairman John Archer whilst in Northumberland on the 28th June. The 1st 3 images show the NLC developing over the North Sea.
Taken at 10.46pm.
Taken at 10.55pm.
Taken at 11.04pm.
Taken at 11.20pm.
The next 2 images are from Diane Clarke taken from Belvedere. The 2nd image is absolutely stunning.
Taken at 10.53pm.
Taken at 11.15pm.
The next 2 superb images were taken by Honor Wheeler from Dartford.
Taken at 10.10pm.
Taken at 11.14pm.
This super image was taken by John Howarth from Bexley.
Taken at 11.10pm
This dramatic NLC image was taken by Bob Bryne from Dartford.
Taken at 11.27pm.
These lovely NLC images were taken by Sonia Rubie from Bexley.
Taken at 11.06pm.
Taken at 11.12pm.
These last 2 superb images were taken by Jim Burchell from Dartford just after midnight, so on the 29th June 2024 at 12.06am and 12.07am.
Slideshow
![John Howarth Parhelion](https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/gallery/atmospheric_optics/John-Howarth-Parhelion.jpg?t=1553111227 "I must admit that the picture does have a certain surreal quality, which will hopefully make up for any lack of scientific weight! When I first saw the mock-sun I genuinely thought for an instant that it was the real one behind high cloud, but then realised that it was in the wrong direction and the real sun was going down behind the houses on the right!
It was taken 4 January 2019 at 1427UT with an Alcatel One Touch Pixi 3 (not my choice of name, but so be it) Model 4009X and was allegedly 1680x1120 pixels before JPEG compression. It hasn\'t been processed in any way.
The location was about halfway along Eastry Road, location 51deg 28\' 33\\"N, 0 deg 9\' 3\\"E to the nearest 100 feet or so.")
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