At times, the lighting configurations on these “drones” can be quite perplexing, especially given the clear direction in which the craft is traveling. We can easily determine their trajectory based on their movement above or near us—I’m confident I could plot it on a compass.
However, the lights on many of these unusual objects don’t seem to align with that trajectory. Has anyone else noticed this?
It’s as if the front and back of the craft aren’t oriented correctly according to their actual flight path. This observation seems relevant for all sightings, but it’s particularly noticeable with lower-flying objects, which appear larger and thus more distinct.
Could wind play a role in making a craft appear to be facing Southeast due to its lighting, while it’s really heading Northeast?
I know there are exceptions, and gauging distance in the night sky can be tricky, but this seems like an easy indicator to identify when a craft looks out of place.
Strange stuff!
You bring up an interesting point about the orientation of lights on drones or other aerial craft! It’s definitely true that the way lights are configured can sometimes look odd compared to the direction the craft is moving.
One possibility for the discrepancy you’re noticing could be that some drones or aircraft have lights placed for visibility or regulatory reasons rather than strict adherence to directionality. For instance, certain colors of LED lights might be used to indicate altitude or orientation, which may not always align with the craft’s actual flight path.
As for wind, it could potentially affect the craft’s stability and orientation, especially for smaller drones. If a drone is being buffeted by wind, it might appear to be facing one direction while actually traveling another, especially if it’s adjusting its position to maintain stability.
Your observation about low-flying crafts being easier to analyze is also spot on; we have a clearer visual reference, allowing for more accurate judgments about their alignment and behavior. The challenge of gauging distance and height in the night sky only adds to the confusion.
Thanks for sharing your insights! It’s these kinds of detailed observations that can really add to our understanding of the phenomena we see in the sky.