The mysterious phenomenon of noctilucent clouds will be the focus of the Vectis Astronomical Society’s latest monthly talk later this month.
The online presentation, titled The Summer of ’85 and the New Phenomenon of Noctilucent Clouds, will be given by Mark Zalcik on Friday 24th July at 19:30.
The talk can be viewed either in person at Newchurch Pavilion, Watery Lane, Newchurch, or online via Zoom. Non-members are welcome to attend, with a suggested donation of £3. Tickets for the Zoom broadcast are available through Eventbrite.
The presentation will explore the fascinating history of noctilucent clouds – delicate, high-altitude ice clouds that appear in the twilight sky between late May and mid-August.
Mark will explain how the phenomenon was first recorded in 1885, taking audiences back to Germany and other parts of Europe to examine the circumstances surrounding their discovery. The talk will also look at when noctilucent clouds were first observed in North America and examine recent research into the factors that influence how often they can be seen each season.
Mark, who lives in Edmonton, Canada, saw his first display of noctilucent clouds in 1977 after learning about them at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. In 1988, he founded the NLC CAN AM surveillance network to monitor sightings across North America, helping to build decades of knowledge about the elusive phenomenon.
The Vectis Astronomical Society meets on the 4th Friday of most months, excluding December, and regularly welcomes guest speakers from across the UK and overseas. Presentations typically last between 45 and 60 minutes and are followed by a question-and-answer session.
Further information about the society can be found at www.wightstronomy.org. Tickets for the online talk are available via Eventbrite.
