Can someone identify what this is in the sky below the moon.

rickylritter

I used to work for the government and later with the government. We have many "things" that do amazing stuff. Not so amazing if you know what they are and what they do.

rickylritter

I don't believe in aliens; however, if one were to pop up and say hi I might believe then.

Bobbywhy

Here on Physics Forums when we post statements like the above our rules say some source reference should be included. So, rickylritter, who has worked both for and with the "government", will you please explain why you are reminded of "intentionally tuned super heated gasses exahusted at extreme supersonic speeds"? Where have you seen these images before?

Regards,
Bobbywhy

rickylritter

Military aircraft of different sorts. It also reminds me of vapor trails of aircraft making sudden highspeed changes of direction. There are many things that these look like; however, I dont believe they would be natural. While symetry in nature is the norm I dont believe it is the norm for gases.

Jonathan Scott

In this case, it's just within the camera. The shapes are known as "caustics" and are typical for reflections or refraction of light in a curved surface, for example sunlight reflected within a coffee cup.

There are some atmospheric conditions which can cause some interesting effects in the sky, especially "sun dogs" and "moon dogs", which are caused by ice crystals. Google those for more information. However, this particular case is clearly an internal reflection rather than anything atmospheric.

and7barton

Definately internal reflection or lens flare - Pick up a lens and switch on a bright light. Then slowly wave the lens around over a sheet of white paper with the lamp shining downwards. You can reproduce those same shapes and see them projected onto the paper.

rickylritter

If that's what it is I still think that it might have been added to the photo. If you enlarge the photo the images have shadows or some type of immage adjacently placed on the clouds. Lens issues by themselves dont work for me.

KrisOhn

I think everyone needs to take a step back and adjust their tinfoil hats here.

Its been made painfully clear how these are internal lens reflections. And, when you're using a modern lens, which typically have several lenses within them, it is very possible to have two lens flares of different intensity, very close together.

Bobbywhy

You have claimed the artifacts in the photo remind you of “intentionally tuned super heated gasses exahusted (sic) at extreme supersonic speeds” and “Military aircraft of different sorts. It also reminds me of vapor trails of aircraft making sudden high speed changes of direction.”

In post # 22 above Jonathan Scott has told us (correctly) that the artifacts in the photo are “caustics”. Yet you continue with your thesis with “the images have shadows or some type of immage (sic) adjacently placed on the clouds. Lens issues by themselves dont (sic) work for me.”

Now, rickylritter, if you had bothered to visit the Wikipedia page for “caustics” you would have seen exactly those same shapes and forms of light artifacts on images given as examples there. They are “the envelopes of light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface or object.” If you are ready and willing to accept the observational evidence, then you would cease claiming some fictional imaginary dream to explain what we see in the photo. Please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caustic_(optics)

Just in case you are not yet convinced, see “images of caustics” where there are over sixteen pages of thumbnail images with hundreds of examples for you to examine:
http://www.google.com/search?q=caust...w=1341&bih=644

davenn

Couple of good links Bobbywhy

I really cant believe this thread went on for so long when the answer was given within the first few posts

Dave

GarageDweller

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