Objects caught out jet window

[Gil Bavel]

Okay, guys, I don't know what this is.

Here's the link:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2309.html?theme=light

Guy claims he was "just snapping some photos" out the window of a plane and happened to catch some "falling objects" when he looked at them on Flickr.

Any ideas? How come the "objects" are "falling" in formation, with what looks like contrails behind them?

I'm ready for any and all points of view.

Happy Holidays, all.

--Gil

 

[Michael L.]

If you look at the close up image then it kind of resembles the directional reading lamps inside a cabin. Two clues here: he didn't see anything at the time and he is shooting through at least one (probably two or more) pieces of glass. Way too much opportunity for stray reflections to turn up in the photographs.

 

[Gil Bavel]

Hey, good point!

Now, how do you explain the contrails?

 

[The Pair of Cats]

Fake!
It's probably the tall whites heading out to their convenience store on the extra-testicle highway.

 

[Michael L.]

They aren't contrails, they are streaks created by the reflections or even a slight bouncing while the picture is being taken.

 

[pixelsmith]

one object is between the wing tip and cabin near the c-o in the southwest.com lettering. the objects are also parallel to the specular highlight on the leading edge of the wing tip and the one does not show up in the wing tip reflection on the wing. i would say they are reflections in the glass.

 

[Gil Bavel]

Yeah, there's a reflection on the tail section of the wing that also, somewhat confusingly, is caused by the sun, so it makes it look like whatever is reflecting from inside the cabin is also out on the tail.

I still don't know what the contrail-looking stuff is, but we seem to have collectively put the nail in this one, although it was an interesting image.

Good job, crew.

 

[truthseeker]

My first thought was fighter jets flying in formation.

 

[Poi]

one object is between the wing tip and cabin near the c-o in the southwest.com lettering. the objects are also parallel to the specular highlight on the leading edge of the wing tip and the one does not show up in the wing tip reflection on the wing. i would say they are reflections in the glass.

I was wondering if the dots aren't a reflection in the first piece of glass and the streaks a reflection/distortion on the outer piece.