Unusual Contrails - Clouds Protocol

Unusual Contrail : U-Turn

This contrail formed by a plane making a U-turn was spotted by Carol Clark's students at Chapman School in Oregon. While the origin of this contrail is not known, this type of track happens quite often when atmospheric scientists are flying instruments to study the atmosphere. Photo by Carol Clark, in Oregon, USA

Unusual Contrails : Star Pattern

This star pattern of intersecting contrails is actually not that unusual; at least in some parts of the country. Under the current air traffic control system, planes fly along specific "highways in the sky" which intersect at certain points over navigational beacons. This photo from Missoula, MT captures such a location. Photo by Dr. Georgia Cobbs.

Star pattern at sunset

Another example of star pattern contrails. This one was taken driving west on Interstate 70 in Kansas. Such patterns are more common in the western US, due to cross-country flights between eastern and western cities which cross over these navigational beacons. Photo by John Fertig of Campbell, CA.