Photographing noctilucent clouds

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

For several months each year, around midsummer, noctilucent clouds may become visible. They are relatively rare, although they seem to have been seen more often in recent years.

The conditions have once again been suitable for the formation of these unusual clouds in recent weeks. Good reason not to go to bed just yet.

Noctilucent clouds, abbreviated to NLC, are the highest clouds in our atmosphere. They form just below the mesopause, the part of the atmosphere that begins at an altitude of 80-85 kilometres and where temperatures fall to -160°C between mid-May and mid-August.

Tiny ice crystals form on dust particles that probably come from meteorites and volcanic activity. These wispy clouds are invisible, except when they are illuminated in the darkening evening twilight by the sun, which has already disappeared far below the horizon.

When there are noctilucent clouds, they can only be seen from an hour after sunset, in a west-north-westerly direction. They hang fairly low above the horizon. After midnight, they can be seen towards the north-east.

Photographing noctilucent clouds is fairly simple. You should preferably use a tripod, as it is already dark. Also choose a nice location in advance. Finding a location when they appear is possible, but not easy.

I recommend the following settings:
• Focal length between 24mm and 70mm for wide views,
• Focal length between 70mm and 200mm for more detail,
• White balance around 4000-5000K,
• Shoot in RAW,
• Image stabilisation off,
• Aperture between f/4 and f/8,
• Shutter speed between 2 and 10 seconds,
• Adjust exposure with the ISO, which is often between 400 and 1600,
• Use the self-timer or a remote,
• Keep an eye on your histogram for the correct exposure,
• If necessary, take an extra exposure for the foreground

Try to use a reasonably short shutter speed and adjust the exposure with your ISO setting. The clouds move fairly quickly, causing patterns and ripples in the clouds to change. A shutter speed that is too long will make those details fade.

Predicting noctilucent clouds is very difficult. Often, only a probability can be given, although special radar measurements of the atmosphere can provide an indication. Fortunately, there is the internet, and social media often gives a good indication of whether there is anything to see.

Do you want to photograph noctilucent clouds? Make sure you know one or more suitable locations, and from half an hour after sunset, regularly look at the sky in the direction of the sunset. You only know for sure from an hour after the sun has gone down.

And of course, the weather must be clear. If there is a thick layer of cloud, you can be sure they will not be visible, and you do not need to take them into account.

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