As of today, peak season now, through ~July 25. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Noctilucent clouds, also called polar mesospheric clouds, form near the mesopause about 80-85 km above Earth and are illuminated by sunlight after local sunset.
They occur only at high latitudes during local summer and appear as thin, often rippled, electric-blue veils or waves across the twilight sky.
Displays are seasonal and depend on mesospheric temperature, water vapour, and geomagnetic/solar conditions.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Cairn Gorm Plateau - Coire Cas Car Park |
| Loch Morlich Beach (Aviemore) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.