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Polar Mesospheric Clouds and the AIM Satellite

By Rachelle Oblack, About.com

Noctilucent Clouds

Strange glowing clouds form 50 miles above the Earth's surface in summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The NASA AIM Satellite is studying these mysterious clouds that form over the polar regions.

NASA and Veres Viktor of Budapest, Hungary taken on June 15, 2007
Definition: A strange type of cloud exists over the polar regions known as Polar Mesospheric Clouds. The clouds form in the Northern Hemisphere during summer. The clouds remain a bit of a mystery and scientists are quickly trying to learn more about these clouds. In fact, one big mystery is why these PMCs are being seen more frequently and at lower latitudes than ever before.

The NASA Satellite known as the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere or AIM Satellite has been observing polar mesospheric cloud seasons over both poles, documenting for the first time the entire, complex life cycle of these strange glowing clouds.

Also Known As: PMCs

Noctilucent Clouds

Night-Shine Clouds

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