Category: Atmospheric Optics

Member Stephen Cohen spotted something quite rare in the sky at midday on the 11th July 2022 over Cumbria - A  22° Solar Halo with an added Circumscribed Halo around that. Unusual to see in the UK so well spotted Stephen!

Well what a sight! Four planets, the ISS and Noctilucent Cloud that just kept giving.......

At 2.32am an alert went out to members via WhatsApp from member Sonia who had spotted the NLC developing in the North East.

Several members picked up the alert and so too got to witness & photograph a fantastic NLC spectacle which lasted a long time into dawn.  The last photograph taken was at 4.05am!  The planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn (which was in the South) where photographed with the NLC too. Then starting at 3.08am there was a bright ISS pass overhead.

Spaceweather.com wrote ''This morning, sky watchers in Europe woke up to some of the brightest noctilucent clouds (NLCs) in years. The clouds were amazingly bright and remained very evident deep into dawn.  The clouds didn't stop there. They spread south across Europe, backlighting the Eiffel Tower and completely filling skies in places where, normally, NLCs are confined to a thin band near the horizon.''

Below are a selection of stunning photos taken by members , Honor Wheeler, Jim Burchell, Diane Clarke, John Howarth and Sonia - all from North West Kent.

Four images of the NLC on the 6th July 2022 taken by Honor Wheeler.

Three images of the NLC on the 6th July 2022 taken by Jim Burchell.

NLC with Venus at 3.30am

NLC at 3.45am

Three images of the NLC on the 6th July 2022 taken by Diane Clarke.

Diane said 'Again following  a message from fellow member Sonia, I set up my equipment and watched in fervent hope that the NLC would develop, as there is always the possibility that they will dissipate shortly after becoming visible.

The 1st image is a panorama created from 6 frames as the entire NLC was spread out over a large portion of the N-NE sky, that a panoramic view was the only option to encompass the majestic splendour on display.

Images by taken by Sonia using an iPhone of the NLC, ISS and Planets on 6th July 2022.

NLC developing in the North East at 2.46am. You can also see the star Capella.

NLC at 2.56am. Getting brighter & higher.

NLC at 3.03am with Capella.

The ISS appearing in the West at 3.08am.

NLC continuing to develop and spread with Capella at 3.15am.

NLC at 3.24am

NLC at 3.26am

NLC and Mars in the East at 3.36am.

NLC with Mars & Jupiter in the East at 3.42am.

NLC at 3.45am nearly overhead.

NLC directly overhead at 3.48am.

NLC at 3.49am spreading overhead.  Saturn can be seen bottom right in the image, which was in the South.

Well they just keep coming - more NLC albeit very faint spotted at 3am on the 8th July 2022 by member Honor Wheeler who sent the alert out to members.  As the NLC were faint to the naked eye members were willing them to get bigger and brighter but alas just a small patch is all that developed that morning.

Below are a selection of photos taken by members who responded to the alert.  All photos taken from North West Kent.

NLC by Honor Wheeler - The faint NLC are middle left.

NLC by Jim Burchell taken with a Pentax K70 - The faint NLC are middle left. 

NLC by Jim Burchell - The NLC are centre left in this image.

NLC by Diane Clarke

NLC at 3.30am.  A white whispy patch of NLC can just be seen in the centre of the photo. They are 7 O'Clock from the star Capella which is in the photo. Photo taken using an iPhone by member Sonia.

On the 5th July 2022 Noctilucent Cloud were spotted again.  They lasted from 2.25am until 3.40am and were in the NE to NNE direction.

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="3468"] A 22 degree solar halo created by tumbling plate ice crystals in the high atmosphere, taken by John Archer on a Samsung Smart Phone[/caption]

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Whilst up early to photograph Venus and the crescent Moon on the 26th June 2022 at Dartford top road, member Jim Burchell also saw some Noctilucent Cloud too around 3am!  The 1st Noctilucent Cloud (NLC) sighting for CMHASD NLC season 2022. 

Jim sent out an alert via Whatsapp to members which Diane Clarke picked up and so too managed to photograph the NLC that morning from North Kent.

NLC by Jim Burchell - 26th June 2022

NLC by Diane Clarke - 26th June 2022

An absolute stunning image taken by Jim Burchell just before he went to bed on the 25th June 2022 of Crepuscular Rays. 

Oh my word, what a fortunate man member Martin Crow was last evening whilst out Kayaking on the river near Burnham on Crouch in Essex.  Martin got to witness something very rare and absolutely stunning; 3 rainbows together!!!  Two rainbows are often seen by people but 3 rainbows or the beginnings of a 3rd is a rare sight to see. 

Luckily Martin captured this special event on his phone, see below and member Honor Wheeler explained the 3rd rainbow  ''It's a reflection of the main rainbow from the water reflecting back into the sky.  A reflection bow. Super capture lucky you''.

A stunning Solar Halo was sighted & captured by Jim Burchell whilst visiting Eynsford Castle on the 28th Jan 2022. 

 

A beautiful Lunar Halo last night photographed by members Jim Burchell and Gary Hunt.

Jim's photo above was taken around 9.30pm and Gary's photo below at 11.30pmish.