Contrail shadows sometimes appear counter-intuitive. This one seems cast by a low altitude bright light shining upwards and casting the contrail shadow on a higher cloud. The reverse is the case. The aircraft and its trail are high up and seen through a lower level thin layer of cirrus haze.. Contrail shadow way above you." Harold Milholland also noted it's a "Contrail shadow, I seen one two weeks ago." Several jokingly claimed it was the equator, while some shared other creative theories.

Contrail Casts a Shadow on a Cloud Stock Image Image
Contrail Casts a Shadow on a Cloud Stock Image Image
Contrails — What are they and how do they form?
Contrails — What are they and how do they form?
Contrail Shadow Atmosphere Digital Images of the Sky
Contrail Shadow Atmosphere Digital Images of the Sky
Aircraft Contrail And Shadow by Science Photo Library
Aircraft Contrail And Shadow by Science Photo Library
APOD 2024 April 23 Contrail Shadow X
APOD 2024 April 23 Contrail Shadow X
The shadow of a contrail on clouds from a jet
The shadow of a contrail on clouds from a jet
Cliff Mass Weather Blog Contrail Shadow
Cliff Mass Weather Blog Contrail Shadow
Optics
Optics
Contrail Shadows
Contrail Shadows
Contrail shadow and tangential arc Today's Image EarthSky
Contrail shadow and tangential arc Today's Image EarthSky
atmospheric optics Explanation for contrail with a dark line Earth
atmospheric optics Explanation for contrail with a dark line Earth
Jet Contrail and Shadow of the Contrail Stock Image Image
Jet Contrail and Shadow of the Contrail Stock Image Image
Contrail chasing its shadow across the sky
Contrail chasing its shadow across the sky
OPOD Crossed Contrail Shadows
OPOD Crossed Contrail Shadows
Shadow of Contrail EPOD a service of USRA
Shadow of Contrail EPOD a service of USRA
Contrail shadow hires stock photography and images Alamy
Contrail shadow hires stock photography and images Alamy
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy
Star Wars Shadow Squadron Contrail Phase 2 by FALLENV3GAS on
Star Wars Shadow Squadron Contrail Phase 2 by FALLENV3GAS on
Images of shadows cast by jet contrails Human World EarthSky
Images of shadows cast by jet contrails Human World EarthSky
Contrail chasing its shadow across the sky
Contrail chasing its shadow across the sky
Contrail Shadow r/weather
Contrail Shadow r/weather
Images of shadows cast by jet contrails Human World EarthSky
Images of shadows cast by jet contrails Human World EarthSky
Contrail Shadows The Natural Navigator
Contrail Shadows The Natural Navigator
Contrail Shadow HDR by Luxomancer on DeviantArt
Contrail Shadow HDR by Luxomancer on DeviantArt
This shadow of a contrail being cast onto the clouds
This shadow of a contrail being cast onto the clouds
Cliff Mass Weather Blog Contrail Shadow
Cliff Mass Weather Blog Contrail Shadow
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy
Contrail Shadows News The Natural Navigator
Contrail Shadows News The Natural Navigator
Optics
Optics
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy
Shadow of aircraft contrail hires stock photography and images Alamy

Contrail shadows are a captivating atmospheric optics phenomenon where the moon or sun casts a shadow of an aircraft contrail onto a lower layer of clouds or haze, creating a visually stunning display in the sky. This article explores the interplay of light, clouds, and ice crystals that give rise to these mesmerizing shadows.. Contrail shadows form when the long thin artificial clouds formed behind aircraft cast a shadow on a lower, or occasionally higher, layer of cloud. Contrails, the linear clouds often seen trailing behind aircraft, are created when hot, damp air expelled from a jet's engines combines with the frigid, thin air high in the atmosphere.