beautiful rainbow-like formation

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:14 pm

not exactly astronomy but i think you guys will love this nonetheless.

the image is unedited. airliners.net has a strict policy against photoshop.

this image is scaled down. the original image is at http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1 ... =&next_id=

what is happening here is that when a jet aircraft flies at or above a certain altitude, the hot exhaust from the jet engines rapidly cool and condense behind the aircraft forming contrails. this particular plane flew at a certain angle such as to allow the sun's rays to split into the beautiful colours seen.

Post by **weixing** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:28 pm

Hi,

the image is unedited. airliners.net has a strict policy against photoshop.

Hmm... one question... why the background is black??

Have a nice day.

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:54 pm

good question, but i'll give it a guessed answer.

i think the photo was taken at dusk or dawn, and the sun had already set. but because of the high altitude of the plane, ample sunlight was available up there

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:14 am

The colors remind me of pictures taken using a polarizing filter.

However, the 4 red engines suggest that IR was used (I have not seen any planes that paint their engines yet - safety regulation?).

It looks unnatural, from my perspective.

Post by **weixing** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:06 am

Hi,

i think the photo was taken at dusk or dawn, and the sun had already set. but because of the high altitude of the plane, ample sunlight was available up there

Hmm.. sound logical...

However, the 4 red engines suggest that IR was used (I have not seen any planes that paint their engines yet - safety regulation?).

I think the engine of Virgin Atlantic aircraft is in red colour:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Atlantic_Airways

Also, I think IR photo won't show the heat as red, it'll show it as white.

Have a nice day.

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:08 pm

yup that's a airbus a340-600 from virgin atlantic. they paint the engine nacelles red

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:35 pm

Hmm.. I was wrong... so it was not IR!

aquillae · Post by **aquillae** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:07 am

wow, what a beautiful shot.

Schlieren heat imaging came across my mind.

http://www.mne.psu.edu/psgdl/FSSPhotoal ... py_jpg.jpg