FERMANAGH residents were left amazed last night (Tuesday) when the incredibly rare ‘Noctilucent clouds’ appeared high up in the sky.
The Met Office which is the UK’s leading national weather and climate service reports that the natural beauty is incredibly rare.
“Noctilucent clouds are extremely rare collections of ice crystals, occasionally appearing in late clear summer evenings after sunset, but before it gets completely dark,” they said.
“They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars appear and often stay visible after dark because they are still reflecting sunlight due to their great height.”
It is incredibly rare for ‘Noctilucent clouds’ are spotted in Fermanagh. Angel Johnston from Kinarla in Enniskillen was quick to capture the sky last night.
“They are higher up than any other clouds, occupying the layer of atmosphere known as the Mesosphere, and are only seen at latitudes between 45°N and 80°N in the Northern Hemisphere, and equivalent latitudes in the southern hemisphere,” said the Met Office.
“They are seen less often in the southern hemisphere as there is very little land and very few people there.
“Only the southern tip of Argentina and Chile, and the Antarctic are at the correct latitude.”
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