Newsroom
A strange object that appeared in the sky over Nicosia yesterday has sparked curiosity, but experts have quickly identified it as most likely being a condensation trail, or contrail, from an airplane.
According to the Cyprus Astronomy Organization, the object was spotted moving westward shortly after sunset. The key clue to its identification lies in its high-altitude location—over 10 kilometers above the ground—where the sun continues to illuminate the condensation trails created by airplane engines. These trails are made of frozen water vapor, and when the light hits them at the right angle, they take on a bright orange color, which explains the unusual hue seen in the sky. The double tail observed was due to the two engines of the plane, which left two distinct trails.
Other possible explanations were ruled out after careful consideration. For example:
- Meteorite: Meteorites typically move at very high speeds and are visible only for a few seconds. The object in question moved much slower, at a speed that matches typical aircraft—around 220 to 260 km/h.
- Space debris or rocket stage: Such objects would leave scattered fragments and remain visible for a much longer time. But there was no planned reentry of space debris or rocket stages on that day, making this explanation unlikely.
- Missile or military object: There were no reports of military tests or missile launches in the area, and missile trails tend to be asymmetrical and unstable, which contrasted with the stable, symmetrical pattern of the observed object.
The organization emphasized how important it is to understand aeronautics, space science, and atmospheric physics to properly recognize such phenomena.
