Northern lights and glowing noctilucent clouds collide in a rare night sky show over Alberta (photo)

noctilucent clouds shimmer along the distant sunset sky while green curtains of auroras dance above and are reflected in the water below. — Northern lights and noctilucent clouds shining in Alberta skies on June 9, 2025. (Image credit: @TheAuroraGuy)

Nature served up a stunning double feature in the skies over Alberta, Canada, on June 9.

"It was quite the surprise to see the aurora, as there was really no data to justify the geomagnetic conditions," Thomas told Space.com in an email. "It was even more surprising to see the NLCs, as they had to overcome wildfire smoke from the Northwest and a waxing gibbous moon that was 84% full."

NLCs are Earth's highest clouds, appearing as thin wispy blue or silver streaks about 47 to 53 miles (76 to 85 km) above the planet's surface. They form in summer when water vapor drifts into the mesosphere and crystallizes around meteoric dust. Their delicate glow is often visible from high latitudes shortly after sunset or before sunrise.

"There's nothing quite like seeing the aurora borealis and noctilucent clouds at the same time," Thomas told spaceweather.com. "It's the perfect combination."

gif animation showing northern lights dancing as ribbons of green light above noctilucent clouds. — Northern lights and noctilucent clouds shining in Alberta skies, June 9. (Image credit: @TheAuroraGuy)

Thomas captured the scene using a Nikon D810 camera with a 50mm lens, shooting 1/30-second exposures at ISO 3200 with one-second intervals to create both a timelapse and a still image.

Surprisingly, this wasn't the first time Thomas had witnessed such a spectacle. In 2020, he not only captured NLCs and aurora but also a comet!

"On July 14, 2020, at the height of Covid, I captured the NLC's, Neowise [comet] and the aurora," Thomas told Space.com.

northern lights and noctilucent clouds — Noctilucent clouds, northern light and comet Neowise captured on July 14, 2020. (Image credit: @TheAuroraGuy)

a bright comet streaks through curtains of purple and green light above thin wispy noctilucent clouds. — Comet Neowise streaking through the northern lights with noctilucent clouds below. (Image credit: @TheAuroraGuy)

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

The NLC season typically lasts through August, so skywatchers in northern latitudes may yet catch their own glimpse of this dazzling duo.

Want to brush up on your astrophotography skills? Our guide to astrophotography for beginners covers everything from equipment to shooting modes and more. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture your next skywatching sight.

Editor's Note: If you snap a stunning astrophoto and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022, having previously worked as a staff writer for All About Space magazine. She completed an editorial internship with BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre, communicating space science to the public.

Daisy holds a PhD in plant physiology and a Master's in Environmental Science. Based in Nottingham, U.K., she covers all things space, with a special focus on solar activity and space weather. She also has a keen interest in astrotourism and is always on the lookout for the next northern lights adventure.

She will be a guest speaker aboard HX's Solar Eclipse Expedition in August 2026 and will join Hurtigruten as an onboard astronomer for a northern lights sailing in January 2027.