Stellar

letterstomycountry:

This is a rare meteorological phenomenon called a “sky hole” (alternatively “sky punch” or “hole punch clouds”).  It’s difficult to find info about them on the internet, but WeatherVortex explains:

The prevailing theory is that Cirrocumulus clouds contain both ice crystals, and supercooled water droplets. The introduction of the extra water from the jet exhaust causes a rapid increase in the rate of crystallization, and all the water turns to ice as the ice crystals get larger. This rapidly desaturates the air, which then pulls in moisture from the air around it, thus spreading the hole. The larger ice crystals then drift downwards (as virga), since they are heavier, resulting in the characteristic “V” or “wing” cross-section of the central cirrus uncinus cloud, which looks a bit like a bird or an angel, if you are imaginative enough.

Not all of them look this impressive, but…this one is damn impressive.

(via scinerds)