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NLC ALERT:
"While India and China were enjoying a total solar eclipse,
here in Europe we were treated to a sky show of our own," says
Tomasz Adam of Staszów, Poland, where the night sky lit up with
intense
noctilucent clouds (NLCs) on July 21st and 22nd. "It was
easily the best display I've ever seen." A similar event last
week heralded NLCs in the United States as far south as Nevada,
Colorado and Utah. Sky watchers should be alert for more.
AURORA SURPRISE:
In the pits of the deepest solar minimum in a century, sky watchers
had almost forgotten what Northern Lights looked like. Here they
are last night over Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan:
"These are the first auroras I have been able
to photograph in more than a year," says Tenho Tuomi. "It
was a pleasant surprise."
The display was sparked by a solar wind stream which
hit Earth's magnetic field on July 21st. The ensuing geomagnetic
storm registered 6 on the 0 to 9 K-index scale of geomagnetic activity.
"My magnetometer picked up the
disturbance and I rushed outside to see the show," says
Tuomi.
July
2009 Northern Lights Gallery
[previous Julys: 2008,
2007, 2006,
2005, 2004,
2003]
TOTAL ECLIPSE:
On Wednesday, July 22nd, the Moon eclipsed the midday sun over China.
"The temperature dropped from 96.6 F to 88.5F at totality,"
reports Donald Gardner from Huangshan. "The roosters were crowing
and the streetlights came on!" He took this picture of a sun-sliver
beaming through lunar mountains:
Browse the gallery for more scenes from the path of totality:
UPDATED: July
22nd Eclipse Gallery
[previous eclipses: Jan
26, 2009; Aug.
1, 2008; Mar. 19,
2007]
UPDATED: 2009
Noctilucent Photo Gallery
[previous years: 2008,
2007, 2006,
2005, 2004,
2003]
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