Watch: Rare Nacreous clouds filmed over Lough Foyle

Stunning time lapse footage of a rare type of cloud has been filmed over Lough Foyle.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2016, 08:48 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2016, 09:50 BST
The rare polar / rainbow clouds known as Nacreous, captured by Bren Whelan over Lough FoyleThe rare polar / rainbow clouds known as Nacreous, captured by Bren Whelan over Lough Foyle
The rare polar / rainbow clouds known as Nacreous, captured by Bren Whelan over Lough Foyle

The footage of the Nacreous cloud, shot by Bren Whelan, was taken on February 2.

Also known as Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs),nacreous clouds form in the lower stratosphere over polar regions when the sun is just below the horizon.

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The clouds are illuminated from below and often glow in vivid colours and will often remain visible for a couple of hours after sunset and through the night as they are lit by moonlight.

Nacreous clouds form below -78 C temperatures and so are most likely to occur during the polar winter.