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5 thoughts on “Further view of Noctilucent clouds over the Atlantic, seen from the cockpit.”

  1. Bill Valentine avatar Bill Valentine says:

    And you didn’t forget your position report!

  2. Nienke Lantman avatar Nienke Lantman says:

    How nice to read your explanation, very interesting!

  3. Andrew Kirk says:

    Great story. Great photo. Thanks.

  4. Andy Knight says:

    This is an awesome couple of photos.
    Thanks so much for uploading :)

  5. Ianl pp Kent says:

    "Another rare natural event, which some speculate is actually enhanced by rocket and shuttle exhaust plumes, are noctilucent clouds.
    The conditions have to be just right in order to witness these clouds that live at 300,000 feet, (80 to 85 kilometers) an altitude which seems impossible, considering the lack of atmosphere, for a cloud to exist.
    They're most commonly seen during a two month period that straddles the summer solstice. Furthermore, most sightings occur between 50 and 70 degrees latitude; perfect if you live north of New York, Madrid or Beijing and south of Barrow, Alaska.
    Finally, as if to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to catch sight of these clouds, they're only visible for an hour or two before sunrise or for a while after sunset. The reflecting sun illuminates the clouds from below, lighting them up in the dark sky.
    I flew across the Atlantic at night, during the perfect time to witness these clouds, for eight years before finally sighting them. Two weeks before snapping these pictures, I had seen a wisp of a cloud that I probably wouldn't have given any thought to.
    But a British Airways pilot explained the clouds to a few curious pilots over our air-to-air frequency that's often used to share ride information or to collect an email address of a passing flight if an especially good photo is taken.
    He spelled the cloud to a pilot, who asked again for the name. N-O-C-T-I-L-U-C-E-N-T.
    I vowed to look that up when we landed.
    Less than two weeks later, the captain and I dimmed the lights (a time-consuming task involving 30 knobs that will be the subject of a future Cockpit Chronicles video) so we could get a better look at what appeared to be the Northern Lights.
    They were spectacular. But there was one thing that didn't seem quite right. They weren't moving at all. Typically the Aurora Borealis glow and change shapes every five seconds or so.
    After a few minutes I mentioned noctilucent clouds to Mark, the captain. The clouds lit up the arctic sky, although it was two to three a.m. over this part of the Atlantic. The sun wouldn't be up for a few hours.
    Initially I was disappointed that I only had a wide angle lens with me, but it turned out to be just the right look. I think it ranks as my favorite shot ever"Kent Wien

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Crosswire view of altocumulus clouds with some virga over Carlsbad, New Mexico, US.

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