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Post by Paul Evans on Jun 7, 2007 7:19:09 GMT
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Post by martinastro on Jun 7, 2007 15:39:25 GMT
Excellent work Paul - this was some show! I observed this display myself from 23.50 - 03.30 BST and couldn't believe what I was seeing. It started off as a wonderful display but as the night went on and in particular before dawn it turned into one of the largest and most attractive displays I have ever seen. From the country the view was breathtaking, the type 5 brightness of the display illuminated a bank of fog which sat over acres of fields and sweeping upward from this were multiple graceful arcs of electric blue IIab long bands, waves and whirls which I could see moving in real time. It was the kind of display I have always wanted to see. At 03.30 they passed the zenith and moved into the south beyond the 'Summer Triangle' extending 160 degrees in azimuth from the NW - E and reached + 160 degrees in height. I am sure many late night motorists were wondering what was happening with the sky. I have only had 3 hours sleep last night and the two nights before so I retired before dawn however I firmly believe that had I stayed out I would have seen the NLCs in the south near Jupiter so this display pretty much covered the entire sky making it the 2nd largest display I have ever seen. I will not forget this one in a hurry! Here's the link to several of the 50 images I took which don't do the display justice..(honestly) www.nlcnet.co.uk/ |
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Post by martinastro on Jun 7, 2007 16:44:20 GMT
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Post by Paul Evans on Jun 7, 2007 17:37:25 GMT
Thanks Martin, and well done with your desctiption on SW too!
Looks like you saw more than I did as I was getting a lot of mist when I gave up and went to bed at 0200 having to be at work today!
This season is looking really promising!
Clear skies,
Paul.
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Post by martinastro on Jun 8, 2007 13:58:03 GMT
Thanks Paul and well done again! I was up at 8am myself and I am paying for the last 3 all nighters now lol but it is always worth it. Another display last night.. Visible from 22.23 - 03.30 BST 22* high and extending from W - NW 120* in azimuth. Type 3 brightness and consisting of type I Veil, IIa bands with soft edges and IIIab waves - classic ripples on a beach structure. Nice orange, gold, green, white and blue colours present. Display subdued by murky sky but having said that it was a nice display but nothing compared to the previous night which spoilt me! In the NW evening sky planet Venus was covered by faint cream coloured NLC bands which was a nice sight. Extensive in western sky before dawn and still visible when I ended the observing run. tinypic.com/view.php?pic=4tz0euo tinypic.com/view.php?pic=68k21qr tinypic.com/view.php?pic=5zf49r4 tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6gkfa5c Venus & NLC. Note the half phase of Venus (more distinct in high res). tinypic.com/view.php?pic=522k6iv |
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Post by martinastro on Jun 9, 2007 17:33:09 GMT
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Post by Administrator on Jun 13, 2007 9:41:47 GMT
Hi Martin, I also saw the display on the 8th even though it was a bit cloudy and I was in a poor location. From my records of last year, I dont think the displays were so extensive at this stage of the year, so maybe it will be even 'better' this year. I say 'better' in quotes as NLCs may be a bad sign! Robert.
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Post by martinastro on Jun 15, 2007 21:42:53 GMT
Hi Robert I sure hope this season is better but beating last years will be a tough one, so far things are looking good.  My own records for the 2006 season show that bright, complex, extensive displays appeared on June 2/3rd onward. |
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