Today marks the day when the Sun is above the horizon for exactly 12 hours of the day everywhere on the planet. This astronomical event happens twice a year and is called the equinox. The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus(equal) and nox (night). For millennia, we have been observing this day in the calendar, […]
The annual Perseid meteor shower is coming. The shower begins, gently, in mid-July when Earth enters the outskirts of a cloud of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. No other comet produces fireballs like 109P/Swift-Tuttle–probably a result of its oversized nucleus. The comet’s core is 26 km in diameter, and naturally crumbles […]
The first noctilucent clouds of this season have been spotted from the UK. These beautiful midnight clouds illuminate the twilight sky of summer. If you see any be sure to report it at the NLC Observers website or using the Glendale atmospherics web app. Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds […]
Below you will find the latest, specific forecasts for snow and winter forecasts. Some of these links are specifically about predicting a White Christmas for the UK. Be sure and look at the model charts too.
Introduction 100 years ago in November 1919, the United Kingdom was in the middle of a severe cold spell. This was a cold spell that would be significant enough in the heart of winter, but the fact it took place in mid-November is extraordinary. Across the whole of the British […]
On Monday 11th November, Mercury will transit across the face of the Sun. This planetary alignment will occur 14 times throughout the 21st Century, but, due to the size of Mercury and the time of year, observing this tiny black disk crossing the face of the Sun, can be challenging. […]
With the tree pollen season in full flow and grass pollen season is looming, being informed of how the weather and pollen could affect you is key to being able to take the required steps to minimise any symptoms you may be subject to. With this in mind, I have […]
With the settled weather, and clear skies, thoughts at this time of year turn to the forthcoming Messier Marathon season. This year, 2019, the best observing times will be from 3rd – 9th March. If you aren’t familiar with what a Messier Marathon is, here’s a simple definition: A Messier […]
A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon passes into the Earth’s total shadow, or umbra. Lunar eclipses occur on a full Moon night when the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned in a straight line or almost straight line in space. Anyone on the night-side of the Earth at […]
With the threat of snow ever present in the tabloids, it helps to stay informed and bypass the sensationalist headlines. Check out the Snow RADAR, forecasts and Model forecasts on the pages below.