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> Noctilucent clouds

Noctilucent clouds

author: S.Voltmer/Novapix

reference: t-met03-49006

Image Size 300 DPI: 23 * 15 cm

These rare clouds are called noctilucent or "night shining" as they seem to glow in the dark. They are caused by ice crystals at about 80 km altitude. These crystals reflect sunlight when the sun is well below the horizon. They are properly known as polar mesospheric clouds and are under intense study as it remains a mystery as to how they are formed. Date: July 6, 2016 Location: Spicheren, France

Keywords for this photo:

2016 - ASTRONOMY - ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA - CLOUD - DAWN - FRANCE - LANDSCAPE - METEOROLOGY - NIGHT - NOCTILUCENT CLOUD -