Aurora & Noctilucent Clouds
Contributed by Members of FoGO
All materials are property of their respective contributors
Contributed by Members of FoGO
All materials are property of their respective contributors
Noctilucent Clouds – NLCs – are Earth's highest clouds. Seeded by meteor dust and enhanced by the greenhouse gas methane, they float 82 km above Earth's surface at the edge of space. NLCs are rarely seen below the Arctic Circle. Recently - and possibly due to climate change - they have spread to lower latitudes with sightings as far south as Utah and Colorado.
Observing tips: During the summer months, look west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset when the Sun has dipped 6 to 16 degrees below the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you may have spotted a noctilucent cloud.
For more information on these and other atmospheric phenomena, see here.
Observing tips: During the summer months, look west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset when the Sun has dipped 6 to 16 degrees below the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you may have spotted a noctilucent cloud.
For more information on these and other atmospheric phenomena, see here.
Images by Troy Carpenter - Goldendale Observatory Administrator
Bright Aurora Borealis over the North Dome
- September 2015
A geomagnetic storm led to a surprising auroral display
at the Observatory
- 8th June 2014
Aurora Borealis over the North Dome
- 8th June 2014
Receding auroral activity and
Andromeda Galaxy behind North Dome
- 8th June 2014