Readers were delighted to spot a rare cloud phenomenon in the skies on Thursday evening – and pictures came flooding in.
Nacreous – or rainbow – clouds are considered rare because they are usually found only in extremely cold air – around minus 78C – and form at 70,000ft above ground level.
According to the Met Office: "Occasionally cold polar air, locked in place by strong winds high up in the atmosphere – called the polar vortex – weakens and allows this colder air to sink south to our latitude.
"Formed in the air that is around -80C, tiny ice crystals reflect sunlight, giving the cloud pearly colours – the reason why it is also called mother-of-pearl.
"Nacreous clouds are mostly seen a couple of hours either side of sunset or sunrise and, being so high, they are still lit by sunlight which makes them appear even brighter in our evening sky."
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