A noctilucent cloud photographed from Soomaa National Park, Estonia. Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds that form on Earth, being found in the mesosphere at altitudes of more than 70 kilometres (43 mi) above the ground. They are also among the rarest seen types of clouds: they are very dim (can only be seen after sunset illuminated by the sun below the horizon), and are typically only seen at latitudes between 50 and 70 degrees from the equator during the summertime.