Summer Solstice May Reveal Rare Electric Blue Clouds In Northern Hemisphere

The longest day of 2023 is about to unfold for the Northern Hemisphere, and after the sun finally sets, skywatchers in certain areas of the globe might be able to spot a type of cloud that goes undetected throughout the rest of the year.

The summer solstice occurs every year between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. As the Earth orbits around the sun on its axis, the most direct rays from the sun migrate southward, eventually reaching the Tropic of Capricorn on the winter solstice between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22.

For the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true, with the June solstice marking the start of winter and the December solstice marking the beginning of summer.

The seasons will officially change on Wednesday, June 21, at 10:27 a.m. EDT. This will also be the longest season of the year, lasting 93 days, 15 hours and 52 minutes, according to timeanddate.com.

Not only does the summer solstice feature the longest day of the year, but it also brings the opportunity to see a weather phenomenon high in Earth’s atmosphere.

Noctilucent clouds, sometimes called “electric blue clouds” due to their color, are a type of cloud that is only visible to the naked eye during the weeks around the summer solstice when the weather conditions and the sun angle are just right.

These clouds form about 50 miles above the Earth’s surface, much higher than typical clouds which develop in the lowest 10 miles of the atmosphere.

June and July are the best months to spot these high-altitude clouds in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere, onlookers should watch for them in December and January.

There is a catch for people trying to spot these shimmering clouds in the weeks surrounding the summer solstice – they are only visible in areas between 45 and 60 degrees latitude, according to EarthSky.

This includes areas in and around London, Paris, Berlin, Calgary, Montreal, Minneapolis and Seattle.

Some planning is also required to spot the elusive clouds as they can be seen only about one to two hours after sunset in the western sky and about one to two hours before sunrise in the eastern sky.

Noctilucent clouds are a part of Earth’s atmosphere, but they have otherworldly origins. Many of the shimmering clouds develop around particles left behind by meteors. Super cold water droplets freeze on the meteor debris and form ice. These clouds are made purely of ice.

A similar phenomenon can happen when a rocket launch takes place just before daybreak or shortly after sunset.

On Sept. 15, 2021, SpaceX launched a crew of four into space on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, after sunset. As the rocket ascended through the atmosphere, it eventually reached sunlight which illumined its trail of exhaust to create a spectacular display.

Although the first night of summer may be the shortest of the year, it may still make for a good night of stargazing as onlookers will enjoy mild conditions and a moonless night.

Produced in association with AccuWeather