Noctilucent Cloud - 13th July 2008

A large bank of cirrus hid much of the north western horizon but these bright noctilucent clouds managed to show above it for a few minutes as the evening twilight faded. The top left image shows several sources of illumination: noctilucent cloud catching the sun, deep blue scattering off the high atmosphere, a contrail lit by the moon behind me and finally the dull orange glow of light pollution reflected off the lower cirrus.


The first image was taken with the sun 10.4 degrees below the horizon, dropping to 11.1 degrees for the last one. After that the display faded out fairly quickly.

Canon EOS 20D 13th July 2008
Wiltshire, England