EarthSky News - Jan 26 - Contrail Shadow

January 26 Contrail Shadow by:

Contrail shadow Jet contrail shadows appear to be cast by a low-altitude bright light shining upwards. In fact, the light source is the sun, and the shadow is cast downward on clouds below. Tonight … Can you see Achernar? This bright star marks the end of the River Eridanus. Many at northerly latitudes make a game of trying to catch a glimpse of it. Extinction threatens 60% of world's primates "We are at a turning point where we must take action or lose many species during the next 50 years." Early humans wiped out big animals in Australia A new study suggests that humans were the primary cause of extinction of the huge and astonishing creatures that roamed Australia 45,000 years ago.

EarthSky 2017 moon calendar almost sold out! Best New Year's gift ever! Purchase one before it's too late. Your support means the world to us.

Contrail shadow This photo - captured January 20 by Don Spain in Hillview Kentucky - shows a contrail shadow plus one other atmospheric phenomenon. If you look closely, you'll see a little tangent arc - a little arc of light - to the right of the shadow, near the bottom of the photo. Info about tangent arcs here.

Tonight … Can you see Achernar? It's bright, but you need to be far south - the latitude of the far-southern U.S. or below - to glimpse it. Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

by: