NLCs - May 5/6th

[martinastro]

The second NLC display of the 2008 season captured within the same 24 hours as the the pre-dawn display on the morning of the 5th. John C. McConnell from Maghaberry, N. Ireland drove out the road after sunset and set up his camera to photograph planet Mercury when he spotted an NLC display in the darkening twilight. This image was taken with a Canon 400D at ISO1600, 30 second exposure at F/5.6 at 23.06 BST. Covering the entire NW - N horizon some 5 + degrees in height is a bright NLC display with type Ia bands with soft edges running parallel with the horizon. The red glow to the R is from the lights on Maghaberry prison. Gemini is to the L, Auriga at centre, and Perseus to the R. It's quite a shock to see NLC displays for two nights in a row from our location so early in the season which reminds me of Thomas Romney Robinson's famous early sighting on May 1st 1850 from Armagh Observatory N. Ireland when he recorded...''strange luminous clouds in NW, not auroral''

[markt]

Nice picture! Good work John!

Clear here tonight, i'm gearing up to get a photo of Mercury, Moon and Pleiades (fingers crossed) - Not sure if NLC's will be visible here, I must be a good 3 degrees further south than you guys, but needless to say I shall be keeping an eye out

[John9929]

Hi Mark, thanks for the good wishes.

It is always nice to go out imaging one thing and end up seeing something else. These bands were clearly visible to the eye and were unmistakable but reached only about 5 degrees above the horizon, so the good vantage point paid off. I would never have seen those from my own garden. Lets hope it's the start of a good season!

John McConnell.