Rise and Shine!

Another amazing picture has been released by those lucky astronauts up there on the International Space Station who’re seeing our beautiful world in all its glory. Their latest offering is of night shining clouds illuminated by the rising sun, and I’m sure you’ll agree, the effects are stunning.

Noctilucent or night shining clouds are polar clouds illuminated by the rising Sun. The picture clearly shows the polar mesospheric clouds as light blue strips stretching across the top. Low clouds on the horizon appear yellow and orange whilst the higher clouds and particles such as dust and pollution are illuminated brilliant white.

Usually seen at twilight, these amazing effects occur when the Sun sets below the horizon and the Earth’s surface is dark briefly illuminating the clouds with sunlight.

Sometimes, the International Space Station’s orbit is parallel to where night becomes day making this phenomenon visible to those lucky astronauts at all times rather than just twilight.

These illuminated clouds are another example of just how amazing and beautiful the Earth is. If you’d like to create colourful illuminating effects in your home, try out the Moonlamp