Topic: Space Pictures This Week: Supermoon, Solar Flare, More

[sam]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/pictures/120511-best-space-195-science-supermoon-solar-flares-stars/

Also known as the Seven Sisters, the star cluster M45—seen in a picture submitted May 7 to National Geographic's My Shot—contains more than 3,000 stars and is one of the brightest clusters known, according to NASA. At about 400 light-years away, M45 is also one of the closest star clusters to Earth.

[Clive]

Noctilucent cloud time already?  Wowie!! 

[sam]

Get outside. Hail here.

[Clive]

Sunny here so I may be in with a chance tonight.  We have had spectacular skies these past few nights but I haven't thought of looking for noctilucent clouds.  I'm sure I would have noticed if there had been any though.   

[Simon]

I like Night-Shining Clouds.   

[Rik]

Sounds like a native American Indian.

[Clive]

   They are truly spectacular to watch and are only visible during June (give or take a week or two).  Also, they are only visible at our particular latitude which makes them even more special.  They are the highest clouds of all and are formed from ice crystals which reflect the light of the Sun when it is below the horizon.  They are a very eerie sight shining in the dark and many a flying saucer story has emanated from their sightings.