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Post by kendalstu on Jun 16, 2010 5:25:09 GMT
Lovely - if subtle - display seen from inside Kendal Castle's ruins earlier this morning (01.45 - 03.00) twitpic.com/1x6h9htwitpic.com/1x6hhuWorth losing sleep for? Yeah, I think so...  |
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Post by markt on Jun 16, 2010 6:28:42 GMT
Great shots Stu! Definitely worth loosing sleep for. Congrats on SW  |
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Post by dgrutherford on Jun 16, 2010 7:39:19 GMT
Some nice images over the past few nights so this is becoming slightly frustrating. Another night of OVC skies in the Moray Firth. Sorry I'm not able to see much this year so far. I'll keep my fingers crossed though. Interesting comparisons with last year though where we were all experiencing much more extensive displays yet the temperature record shows the upper atmosphere is as cold if not colder. Clearly more to NLC than just temp.
Dave Rutherford
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Post by whamburg on Jun 16, 2010 7:42:33 GMT
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Post by Bill W on Jun 16, 2010 10:44:51 GMT
The weather hasn't been too good down here either but as a man of meteorology you've hit the nail on the head.
Temperature is only part of the story.
The reason why we tend to get the best NLC in July is because the mesopause is at it's "wettest" then. So any nuclei present have lots (lots being a highly relative term though!) of water vapour to grow with. It's only a tiny amount but it's enough for maximal growth in that environment.
Roll on July...!
Bill.
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Post by conor9mcdonald on Jun 16, 2010 10:58:57 GMT
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Post by dgrutherford on Jun 16, 2010 11:47:45 GMT
Cheers Bill,
I seem to remember in my earlier observing days that there was some debate about the origin of the 'nuclei' which formed the NLC. I think the perceived wisdom was that it may have been space dust of some sort. Is that still the current thinking.
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Post by markt on Jun 16, 2010 13:43:49 GMT
Top shots Connor again! |
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Post by ciderman on Jun 16, 2010 14:25:19 GMT
Fantastic photos really like the bridge shots.
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Post by mherbert on Jun 16, 2010 15:06:36 GMT
Excellent photos!
Not much to be seen here in Norway over the last few days though there appeared to be something last night, though its not getting very dark at this time of year, so my HD video was not conclusive. Have been looking a lot recently as the weather has been good, but I am getting very tired and starting to imagine things!
Mike
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Post by Bill W on Jun 16, 2010 15:07:50 GMT
Hi,
It's often been attributed to meteoric debris, which is entirely possible. I read a while back that it was thought that during years of increased meteor activity there would be increased nlc activity but there is so much natural variation I don't think there was any significant result.
I don't know enough about it to say I don't believe it entirely but I have my doubts. If the cloud particles are indeed of the 200nm ish scale, then the wee nuclei could be a similar size with just a coating of frost or then could be really tiny with a thicker coating.
There are also plain mechanics problems, how does the dust get there in the form and flux needed to make up the clouds.
It's a toughie and without direct sampling it'll be difficult to resolve.
It's all good fun. I hope there are a few good shows in July to enjoy anyway!
cheers,
Bill.
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Post by kendalstu on Jun 16, 2010 16:15:28 GMT
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Post by ediacara on Jun 16, 2010 18:34:16 GMT
Oh boys, these pics are so dreamlike, so stunning, I'd like to congratulate each of you!!! You made my day with these photoes!
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