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.
Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sightings – July 2024
A lovely selection of NLC images taken by Society members on the 7th & 14th of July 2024.
7th July 2024
Honor Wheeler – Dartford.
A panoramic photo by Honor Wheeler comprising 5 individual images.
The bright star like object on the right hand side, middle is Jupiter, diagonally up, top and right is Mars and in-between at the top of the image you can just make out the Pleiades. Taken using a Canon Camera M6II on a tripod, ISO800, f/4.5, 1/2sec, 18-400mm lens set to 37mm. 02:18UTC
Jim Burchell – Dartford.
Bob Byrne – Dartford.
Sonia Rubie – Bexley.
Taken using an iPhone – point & shoot.
14th July 2024
Jim Burchell – Dartford.
Honor Wheeler – Dartford.
This is 6 frame panoramic taken at 21:45UTC.
Taken using a Canon Camera M6II, Tamron 18-400mm lens, ISO800, f/4, 1/1sec. Each frame the lens was set to 27mm. Panoramic created in Bimostitch and processed in Snapseed.
Martin Crow – Burnham on Crouch, Essex.
Time Lapse video by Martin Crow
Sonia Rubie – Bexley.
Taken using an iPhone – point & shoot.
Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sightings – June 2024
It is Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) season and members have been watching the sky to see if these elusive clouds put in an appearance – and I am pleased to report that they have. A few members have spotted them….
First this season was by Honor Wheeler whilst in Norfolk on the 17th June 2024.
Second was by Jim Burchell on the 18th June 2024 from Dartford.
Third was by Jim Burchell & Sonia Rubie on the 20th June 2024.
NLC spotted by Jim on the 20th June 2024 from Dartford.
NLC spotted by Sonia Rubie on the 20th June 2024 from Bexley.
And finally, fourth by Martin Crow on 23rd June 2024 from Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.
Slideshow
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Sun | Comets | Mercury | Venus | Atmospheric Optics | Meteors | Auroa and NLC | Moon | Minor Planets | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Messier | Caldwell | All Deep Sky | Conjunctions | Transits | Solar Eclipse | Lunar Eclipse | Wide Field |ISS & Space Junk | Exo-Planets
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