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Stunning 'night shining' clouds seen over Scotland

A view of the clouds from Pennan in Aberdeenshire

Monika Focht/BBC Weather Watchers Noctilucent clouds — A view of the clouds from Pennan in Aberdeenshire

Weather watchers have been getting up early and staying up late to spot Noctilucent clouds.

The clouds can be spotted in summertime before sunrise and sunset.

Also known as night shining clouds, they are visible when ice crystals form high in Earth's atmosphere and are underlit by the Sun.

On Thursday and Friday they were spotted from Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Harris and Moray.

Peter Maciver said he captured the clouds over Ben Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, late at night

Peter Maciver Clouds over Ben Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, — Peter Maciver said he captured the clouds over Ben Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, late at night

A picture taken from Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway

Dabby/BBC Weather Watchers Clouds from Newton Stewart — A picture taken from Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway

The clouds in an image taken at Ellon in Aberdeenshire

Ticketyboo_sus/BBC Weather Watchers Clouds from Ellon — The clouds in an image taken at Ellon in Aberdeenshire

A beautiful display in an image captured at Elgin in Moray

Astronut/BBC Weather Watchers Clouds from Elgin — A beautiful display in an image captured at Elgin in Moray