20 December 2023 , 19:36
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Residents were enthralled by a spectacular sight on Tuesday evening as they glanced to the sky. The collection of colourful clouds they saw appeared like a "portal to the next dimension" and looked like a spaceship.
The nacreous cloud is hardly ever seen in the UK because very specific conditions are needed, and as one of the highest clouds in the atmosphere, it is typically referred to as "mother-of-pearl", the BBC reports. Very cold conditions must be present over the polar regions and within the stratosphere, approximately 12-19 miles, or 19-31lm, high, which is far above most clouds.
BBC Weather Watcher SazzyJ saw the cloud formation from their garden in Edinburgh, and described it as "iridescence" and like nothing they'd ever seen before. Weather Watcher SkyWatcher said it was "a portal to the next dimension".
Meanwhile, another commented: "Brief, eerie and bright cloud illumination at sunset this evening. Unsure exactly what. No filter, no spaceship." Sometimes cold polar air, secured by strong winds high up in the atmosphere, which is named the polar vortex, is fragile and means colder air can fall south to our latitude.
Residents in Scotland were amazed by a rare sight in the sky on Tuesday evening (BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / INDIAINC)The formation takes shape in air which is approximately -80C, with miniscule ice crystal reflecting the sunlight. This gives the clouds their pearly colours and is why it is commonly called mother-of-pearl.
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Typically nacreous clouds are visible a few hours before or after sunset or sunrise, and because they are so high in the sky they remain lit by sunlight. This makes them appear much brighter in contrast with the dark evening sky.
The height and temperature that are required to make these types of clouds mean they are also known as Polar Stratospheric Cloud. Earlier in the year in February, stargazers were similarly left baffled after spotting the bizarre phenomenon.
People across Scotland took to social media to share their snaps of the strange rainbow-coloured clouds, with some even branding it an 'alien' sighting. Many pictures were uploaded of the clouds as they passed over Scotland and the Highlands, including Moray, Montrose, Aviemore, Aberlour, Turriff and Carrbridge.
Among the people lucky enough to capture the cloud in a photo was Dan Chilton, who then posted his stunning picture on Facebook, as the Daily Record reports. Writing on the Scotland from the Roadside group, he said: "Strange iridescent cloud over Moray this evening. The zoomed-in iPhone camera doesn't do it justice."
Before long, the post had received a staggering 1,500 likes, as well as more than 130 comments, and other witnesses were keen to share their experiences of the cloud.