During the past two nights (July 2 and 3, 2014), skywatchers at northerly latitudes in Europe have reported seeing a wonderful displays of electric-blue noctilucent clouds, sometimes called night-shining clouds. The display last night was said to be especially good. These clouds are made of ice crystals that form on fine dust particles left behind by meteors. They are seen only at high latitudes in either the N. or S. Hemisphere. This is the time of year to see them! Thanks for all who posted to EarthSky Facebook.
Spaceweather.com said:
The display on July 3rd appears to be the best of the year so far, and would seem to herald even more widespread sightings in the nights ahead, not only in Europe but also in North America.
Sightings on the night of July 3 came from Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, England and Belgium.
Bottom line: Europe had a wonderful display of noctilucent clouds on July 2 and 3, 2014. The photos here are mostly from EarthSky friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
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