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Northern Lights

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Valour Gull (U1637480) on Tuesday, 19th February 2008

  I think it is only right that a night time show has a phenomena of the night sky correspondent. Mark Radcliffe did one of his best shows ever when he and Ian MacMillan followed the appearance of the brightest moon in years across the country via the medium of listener correspondence.
  
  I'd also like to see the Northern Lights, one of the mighty listeners will know what I should do, I can be in the north of Scotland in a matter of hours but I cannot move to the Faroe Islands. Perhaps they can indicate times of particularly high skyward activity.
  
  Is it just duffers who get annoyed with themselves when they miss things like meteor showers and comets?
  
  Incidentally, 'Northern Lites' is my favourite Super Furries song and currently, outside is foggy, visibility ~10 yards.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TarTrillian (U9040351) on Tuesday, 19th February 2008

  Yes - I am forever angry with myself for not getting up in the middle of night in 1986 to see Haley's Comet. But, what can I say...I was a 16 year old girl.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Pete_inthehills (U1342784) on Tuesday, 19th February 2008

  unfortunately we are moving towards a solar minimum so aurora activity has been restricted to the high latitudes this winter.
  Two winters ago we had fabulous aurora which could be seen as far south as France. I'm happy to post reminders of things to look out for in the night sky.
  
  You can also sign up at a couple of websites for alerts, try and
  
  Things to look out for at the moment:
  
  American spy satellite - its falling in to the earths atmosphere. The US navy is going to try and blow it up tomorrow!
  
  Total lunar Eclipse 20th Feb. The moon will turn a dark red colour like its been dipped in blood!
  
  I'll let you know more as it occurs.
  
  
  pete
  inthehills
  
  ps Update from Huntly, Aberdeenshire two of my chickens are now laying and its staying light 'til gone 6pm. Marvellous.
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Valour Gull (U1637480) on Wednesday, 20th February 2008

  It's a bit cloudy for the old eclipse, do you think they can postpone it until the next high pressure system takes over?

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Valour Gull (U1637480) on Tuesday, 11th March 2008

  I also fancy seeing a noctilucent cloud.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Pete_inthehills (U1342784) on Tuesday, 11th March 2008

  I've never seen one, but we do get this strange cloud effect where the edge of the clouds are filled with a "mother of pearl" effect. Its amazing, but the photos never show it properly.
  
  This time of year, you should be looking out for zodiacal light. If you look west just after sunset you should see it. Its a short band pale light coming up from the horizon.
  
  I think its something to do with the sunlight reflecting on dust that on the line of our solar systems plane of orbit. Or at least that's what the website said it was!
  
  pete
  inthehills

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Lord Evan Elpussall (U1680871) on Tuesday, 11th March 2008

  You are replying to:
  
  Message posted by Pete_inthehills
  
  I've never seen one, but we do get this strange cloud effect where the edge of the clouds are filled with a "mother of pearl" effect. Its amazing, but the photos never show it properly.
  
  _________________________________________________________________
  
  Was this seen after dark? If so, it could have been a Nacreous cloud that you saw. These are also known as 'mother of pearl' clouds. I haven't seen one in real life myself, only pictures in weather books.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by PeteIsLegend (U10945656) on Wednesday, 12th March 2008

  It does indeed sound like nacreous cloud, which I've seen a couple of times. Noctilucent cloud is only seen in twilight, when the sun shines up on them from below the horizon. Interestingly, it's the only form of cloud that can be seen in the mesosphere (normally all clouds are found within the troposhere).
  
  Here's a claim to fame... I flew with the great leader of the Cloud Appreciation Society in a glider (for a TV show). He's the only person I've flown with (and I've flown with a few...) that's thrown up.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Pete_inthehills (U1342784) on Wednesday, 12th March 2008

  I tend to see them in late afternoon during the winter. I think its something to do with clouds of ice particles and the low angle of the sun.
  
  Even before the mother of pearl appears the clouds have a very distinctive shape and colour. They tend to be lens shaped and have a opalescent sheen to them.
  
  pete
  inthehills

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