Today's Image

Perfect airplane glory

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March 24, 2017

The shadow of the plane is called a brocken spectre, and the ringed light around the shadow is called a glory. March 12, 2017 photo by Gowrishankar Lakshminarayanan.

Gowrishankar Lakshminarayanan wrote:

I was very fortunate to capture the brocken spectre of the jet in which I was traveling down south. The time of the flight, the direction of travel, the altitude above the high clouds & the direction of the rising sun was just perfect for me to capture this beautiful phenomenon. I had only seen previously the brocken spectre images in your article before and ever wondered if I’d ever witness it.

It was just an awesome experience to witness it in person.

Thanks, Earthsky! :)

Thank you, Gowrishankar!

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.