20050618

Noctilucent cloudscape, part two

[This is part one.]

"As night fell over Europe on June 14th, electric blue clouds materialized in the darkening sky. It happened again on June 15th. Jan Koeman took this picture from Kloetinge in The Netherlands.
noctilucent clouds
"Noctilucent clouds are a mystery. They hover near the edge of space, far above ordinary clouds. Some researchers believe they're seeded by space dust. Others say they're a sign of global warming. Whatever they are, they're beautiful, and this week's sightings in Europe mark the beginning of the 2005 noctilucent cloud season. Northern summer is the best time to spot them."

[SW]