NASA Satellites Show Strange Shiny Clouds

A NASA satellite has captured the first occurrence of "night-shine" clouds that form 50 miles above Earth’s surface in the summer seasons. These strange clouds are known as Polar Mesospheric Clouds and their source remains a deep mystery.

According to a NASA press release, AIM (Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere)principal investigator James Russell III stated, "It is clear that PMCs are changing, a sign that a distant and rarified part of our atmosphere is being altered, and we do not understand how, why or what it means. These observations suggest a connection with global change in the lower atmosphere and could represent an early warning that our Earth's environment is being altered."

Once the Northern Hemisphere summer is over, the mission will focus on the Southern Hemisphere summer. The satellite was launched on April 25. Read more about Noctilicent Clouds. In addition, you can read more about NASA Satellites including the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and Aqua.