An Impossible Object

AN "IMPOSSIBLE OBJECT":  A thing and its shadow, braided together.

I took this cool picture of the Sun seemingly transfixed by a contrail that looks like a streak of light.  Then, while preparing to upload it, I spotted something that's way more interesting.  The contrail and its shadow look for all the world like they are wound around each other!  Makes me think of all those Escher prints of impossible objects.

 A TWISTED TWISTY

Related posts:  Apollo's Arrows

One-And-A-Half Twist, Immediately Followed By A Strong Squiggly Finish

What a great freehand design -- looks as though God started to make a twisty contrail, but then decided to wipe it out, only to again change His mind.

Another Twisty ConTrail

A WHIMSICAL PRODIGY


This one is even more unusual than usual(hah) -- I know it can't possibly be true, but this one not only has three half-twists in it, but it looks as if it's been folded flat (say by an origami-loving Cloud Monster). Below is a model I made to illustrate the point more clearly.


Why would a condensation trail left by an airplane look like this? I really, really would like to take a helicopter and go up there for a close look.

Another Corkscrew In The Sky

IT'S GOD'S COCKTAIL HOUR AGAIN


This one isn't quite so screwy as the others, but in the lower portion the twist is more obvious. The airplane makes for a nice added detail.


Wonder why this happens -- is it even a real phenomenon, or an illusion? Are there vortices of air up there, like mini-cyclones, that grab these condensation trails and twist them into corkscrew shapes? Strange.

Another Twisty ConTrail

THE FIRST OF TWO FOLLOW-UPS TODAY (RE 07-19-2010)

Seen today -- a corkscrew of a cloud over Sunset Boulevard.

I Witness: Screwy Cloud

Momma Nature had a buzz on that afternoon.