We were on the edge of (another) typhoon the day before yesterday. Then yesterday, after the typhoon, it was SO clear. I could see every detail on Fuji on our horizon in the morning - and it's a good 60+ kilometres away in a straight line. The night atmosphere was still clear, with some cloud cover - but because it was clear, the lights of the city reflected brightly from the clouds.

Which is "worse", contrails or these clouds? I find contrails can be beautiful, but give me dark clouds shadowing the moon, or a clear sky with myriad stars and not orange, urban-night clouds...

They really were this bright, as was the moon and planet

Actually quite interesting; it looks like any U.S. town. Hopefully, you don't have to travel too far, though, to find dark skies.

Nice capture of the alignment of Jupiter and the moon. Especially the way you managed to combine clouds and astronomy so elegantly. Shame about all the bright objects nearby admittedly.

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=27&month=10&year=2009 covers the 'Monday Night Sky Show' and a suitably spooky halloweeny photograph is featured.

Not the first time they have featured silly pics lately. An earlier shot of a cow with the moon in the background was described as a moooooon. :P

-Mike