Shoot summer’s Noctilucent clouds

Use these tips to have a better chance at spotting this phenomena

You’ll need: ✔ No obstructions on the horizon ✔ A pair of binoculars ✔ Tripod

1 Know what to look for

Noctilucent clouds can be different colours. Look out for simple arcs or wisps of gold or more complex swirls and whirls of electric blue, often silhouetting clouds lower in the atmosphere.

2 Be prepared for brightening and fading

If a display dies down, don’t give up – it might brighten again. Many of the largest displays fade away part way through before coming back.

3 Upgrade to binoculars

Binoculars will show you beautiful detail inside noctilucent clouds – whirls and swirls, crosshatch patterns and long, sinuous lines of smoky cloud, shining in shades of violet and electric blue.

4 Try taking photos

A DSLR on a tripod can snap great images of noctilucent clouds. Set a high ISO and take exposures of several seconds. If fine details are washed out use shorter exposures.