Not long to go now.....

[heaven31]

.......before we'll hopefullY start to see some NLC!! ;D
Is anyone else finding themselves looking already, 'just in case'? haha! I'm looking every night now, even tho I know it's too soon really but you never know

How is everyone anyways?

Jo x

[PeteG]

Hello Jo,
I've been looking every night for weeks now hoping they would start early.
I'm really hoping we get the same sort of storm we did last year...
Pete

[heaven31]

Hi Pete
I'm hoping it's gonna be as good last year too, I wonder if the volcano in Iceland will have any effect on them?

Jo x

[markt]

Hey there!

I've been looking for weeks myself - to no avail, just means it's goiing to be so much more of a buzz when we finally see the first display of the season!

Regards Eyjafjallajokul, I don't think it will affect NLC, the maximum the ash cloud has been reaching is 9000m altitude max, NLC on the other hand occur at altitudes of roughly 75000-85000m - much higher! There may be longer term connections i'm not aware of - others may be able to elaborate on this. What would be nice is to have a volcanic sunset with NLC visible at the same time, although I suspect the timings of these 2 events would be ever so slightly out.

What I do think could make an interesting sight / picture this NLC season is that Comet McNaught is expected to become a naked eye comet durung june/july when it will be in the northern half of the sky. Fingers crossed for some great views of this - hopefully it will have a brightening outburst like comet Holmes did a couple of years ago. Now that would be special. I will find out a chart for it and get up a seperate post regards McNaught and NLC so people can start planning their compositions early

Clear skies y'all!
Mark

[heaven31]

Now that would make for a great pic, NLC and a comet!! Ooooohhh...I can't wait!! lol x

[Jay]

Hi everyone, i see we are all coming out of hibernation ready for the 2010 NLC season. I am looking forward to getting soem decent photos which will be betetr than the ones i took last year as i have since discovered i can set the focus to infinity (before i was using auto focus) So i will be interested to see how much better my pics will be now!
It is exciting to read about the possibility of Comet Mcnaught becoming naked eye, i wont get my hopes up to much about that, as someone already said comets are unpredictable which is so true, rather like NLC really! but thats part of the fun! but lets hope we get the chance to take some comet/NLC pics!
bring on the clear skies!

[dgrutherford]

Hi all,

Yes. Been a few very clear eveings up here on the Moray Firth in the past week so been out looking. So far not a hint though. I must say though that there has also been little suggestion of ash in the atmosphere. I was expecting to see some spectacular sunsets but nothing out of the ordinary.

Dave Rutherford

[heaven31]

I have seen one really amazing sunset and someone had actually submitted a picture of it to Space Weather. The person was from Hale Village in Liverpool and I had actually come through that village on my way home from work when I saw it......it was so pretty but about the only one I've seen since the volcano erupted.

[PeteG]

Nothing over Wiltshire tonight, the weather seemed perfect for it.
Can somebody switch them on please?
Pete

[heaven31]

Nothing here either Pete, and I was thinking it seemed a perfect night too.
There was a lovely sunset here tho x

[markt]

I observed from sunset till 1am local time under perfect conditions and from the west mids can, as like above, report nothing either...

[markt]

Nothing tonight, so far, for me again...

[heaven31]

Nothing here either Ah well.....it won't be long!

[jwh]

Nothing here either just like the radars show. No activity at all in the mesosphere yet!

[lesc]

Les in NE England now has his north facing webcam up - these have provided consistantly good quality in the past

These cams are now on 24 hours between now and mid - August.

Direct link:

cc0020209.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lightbox204/newcam.html

Les