Intriguing Photo

I came across this photo in the comments section of a Youtube video... of all places. The user who took it said it was a high altitude object going "way faster than a normal jet". Apparently it was heading SW - possibly towards area 51 and crossed the sky in 30 seconds.

a reply to: BlackDog10

Sunlit contrail

a reply to: Chadwickus

a reply to: ufoofinterest

Please read the post before you comment

That doesn't explain the description or the gap between the contrail and the aircraft itself

a reply to: Chadwickus

The OP was talking about what created the sunlit contrail...not the sunlit contrail itself.

a reply to: BlackDog10

The gap in the contrail could be due to different thermal layers / temperature gradients.

It could also be due to the aircraft switching propulsion methods...if it's an experimental craft, it could be a portion of the flight was using experimental means (of some type), before switching back to conventional propulsion?

a reply to: MysterX

There is a gap because a layer of cloud is covering a portion.
I would say it is just a contrail however there seems to be some breaking up of the object causing the trail...
So it is most likely a meteor...

a reply to: BlackDog10

Has everything to do with the post.

The spiel is just bs to make it sound more interesting than it is.

Heading towards Area 51 lol

a reply to: BlackDog10

So you want to know what created it?

It was a plane.

To be any more precise we would need time of day, date and location so we could check flights in that area at that time.

a reply to: BlackDog10

The gap is as others have said, just a drier layer of air. As for what it was, there's not enough context to speculate. Where was it? When was it? What time of day?

originally posted by: BlackDog10
a reply to: Chadwickus

a reply to: ufoofinterest

Please read the post before you comment

That doesn't explain the description or the gap between the contrail and the aircraft itself

You never mentioned the gap in the OP at all??

Gaps in contrails are pretty normal and mundane. If you look closely at your image the gap actually isn't between the contrail and the aircraft. It's in the contrail as the aircraft can be clearly seen to be creating a v shaped contrail as it goes along. The difference is that it is dissipating immediately, hence the gap. The end of the long trail is just where the aircraft left an area of humid air and entered an area of drier air.

a reply to: TerryDon79

Not necessarily but intriguing to think it may be something interesting. No less credible than a lot of stuff that gets posted around here.

originally posted by: BlackDog10
a reply to: TerryDon79

Not necessarily but intriguing to think it may be something interesting. No less credible than a lot of stuff that gets posted around here.

Credible as what? All I can see is a picture and then a video of an unknown plane creating a contrail.

Am I missing something?

It may well be something interesting, I'm not saying it isn't. Only that the contrail with the gap in it isn't, which was part of your question wasn't it?

Also the video and image are of a tiny speck with no context so how are we ever supposed to know?

Dp

The aircraft as well seems to be lit up by the sun. Interesting in that if it was stealth painted aircraft that would be a fail?

That narrows it down a little?
grins!

originally posted by: 5StarOracle
a reply to: MysterX

There is a gap because a layer of cloud is covering a portion.
I would say it is just a contrail however there seems to be some breaking up of the object causing the trail...
So it is most likely a meteor…

Nah, a jet. You're right about clouds obscuring a portion, the other thing I was thinking is the jet is passing into earth shadow, becoming dimmer than the contrail still lit by the sun.

Looks like two engines set wide in close-up. Delta planform?

If you're trying to hide something, flying at sunset seems like a stupid idea. Probably not that interesting.

airliner at FL 39 or 40....sky broken in the evening time....speed 545 mph crew at least one is awake...( yes they nap )