Noctilucent Cloud above & Lampyris noctiluca underfoot - Isle of Wight - UK
my homepage .....The National Trust ......Lampyris noctiluca .....Noctilucent Cloud Fuji A350 images copyright-Maurice Gavin-2006 July
A
highlight of a short stay on the Isle of Wight was a "See the stars" party
organised by the National
Trust last Wednesday evening at their Mottistone Downs in the south-west
of the island. It included the rare bonus of seeing
Noctilucent Cloud in the sky and
Lampyris noctiluca [glow-worms] 'starring'
the ground beneath our feet!
Some three dozen members of the public, including a few amateur astronomers from Vectis A.S and from as far afield as Edinburgh and Surrey [me!], gathered at dusk on a perfect summer evening. There was a slight hint of haze in an otherwise clear sky with the prospect of a full moon rising later. The two wardens present outlined stellar navigation [before GPS] and aided by a green laser pen, the stars and constellations above.
Brilliant Jupiter stood guard on the southern horizon. Views of the planet and its attendant Galilean moons through the warden's 60mm bird-spotting telescope delighted the visitors. Double star Alberio at 'the head of Cygnus the Swan' and vastly remote Andromeda galaxy M31 were also viewed through the telescope. Yelps of surprise greeted a brilliant meteor streaking overhead! At least two polar satellites glided silently across the sky.
For
most attendees it was a first 'exposure' to a summer sky. There were
many questions to be answered including whether their zodiacal birth signs
were on show - only Leo through to Scorpio obliged!
Some briefly left the astro-gathering to climb the adjacent downland where the ethereal but flightless female glow-worms put on their annual mating display. Towards the crest of the hill, dotted amongst the gently swaying grass, were dozens on white points of light - for me a marvellous first. These are recorded vivid green in adjacent digital photos but blurred by camera shake.
Unfortunately my announcement back at base that rare Noctilucent Cloud was hugging the northern skyline had heads turning but left them totally silent and under-whelmed! Clearly glow-worms have better PR than NLC!
Maurice Gavin - Worcester
Park Observatory - Surrey UK - 2006 July 14