Noctilucent Clouds: A Rare and Beautiful Phenomenon in Jakarta and Around the World

Jakarta –

In the Northern Hemisphere there is a unique phenomenon where clouds appear at night. These clouds will appear an hour or two after sunset and before sunrise for the next several months in summer.

These clouds are called noctilucent or which in Latin means “shining night” clouds. This unique phenomenon in the sky is the tallest, driest, coldest, and rarest cloud on Earth, according to a 2018 study of the phenomenon.

Launch page Live Sciencenoctilucent clouds are known to display beautiful colors, such as blue, silver, to golden.

These clouds shimmer and glow at night and appear in the mesosphere, the layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, about 47 to 53 miles (76 to 85 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.

How Do Noctilucent Clouds Form?

NASA explains that these clouds are also sometimes referred to as “space clouds”. These clouds form just below the invisible boundary where Earth’s atmosphere ends and outer space begins, approximately 62 miles (100 km) above the planet’s surface.

These clouds form when water vapor freezes into ice crystals that attach to dust and particles left by meteors that fall high in the atmosphere, which reflect sunlight.

Can Be Watched In Summer

The best time to see noctilucent clouds in the Northern Hemisphere is in the summer from late June to late July. Precisely at 50 to 70 degrees north latitude in colder regions such as Denmark.

According to the Washington Post, these noctilucent clouds could show their highest levels 15 years ago in the summer.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States of America, revealed that this phenomenon has occurred more frequently in recent years and at lower latitudes.

This is because climate change is producing more water vapor in the atmosphere due to an increase in methane in the atmosphere.

Best Way to Watch Noctilucent Clouds

Then when is the best time to watch these noctilucent clouds? The best time to see it is at night under the northern horizon when the stars shine at dusk with the naked eye.

But for the best view, look with a pair of binoculars. Not only the clouds, but you’ll also get an incredible close-up of one of the most impressive views of the summer sky.

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