Just saw what i thought was a comet...MN. [747 Contrail]

[shannonwegsc]

My husband assures me it was not a comet. Can anyone tell me what this is. I have a video but it's too large to attach, so I'll see if I can cut it down and add it to the thread later.

The object appeared larger to the naked eye than in the video. Defined edges, reflective, obvious tail, just a 30 degree angle from the sun, if I'm the vertex. It traveled slowly, but clearly moved in relation to other nearby points of reference. At one point, a plane passed through the video frame and appeared tiny in comparison to the unknown object.

We live in Hutchinson , MN. I saw the object at about 10:45, give or take...it could have been closer to 11.

I'm completely fascinated, and I hope someone can tell me what this was.

 

[shannonwegsc]

This sighting took place today, January 28, 2026 at 10:45-11:00 AM central time.

 

[Mick West]

We'll need to see something. Maybe start with a screenshot?

 

[deirdre]

I have a video but it's too large to attach, so I'll see if I can cut it down and add it to the thread later.

it might be easier to just upload the whole thing to youtube.

or @Mick West is there a "how to" video thread that tells us what formats mb accepts and file size?

 

[Mick West]

it might be easier to just upload the whole thing to youtube.

or @Mick West is there a "how to" video thread that tells us what formats mb accepts and file size?

I have updated this post to cover video:

https://www.metabunk.org/threads/skydentify-guidelines-for-submitting-photos-and-videos.2618/

 

[Eburacum]

It traveled slowly, but clearly moved in relation to other nearby points of reference.

Your husband is right; it wasn't a comet.
Comets don't move, at least they don't move fast enough for the movement to be visible. I've seen five different comets, and they stay effectively motionless over the course of a night, but you can see that they have moved if you are lucky enough to see them the next day.

 

[deirdre]

Your husband is right; it wasn't a comet.
Comets don't move, at least they don't move fast enough for the movement to be visible. I've seen five different comets, and they stay effectively motionless over the course of a night, but you can see that they have moved if you are lucky enough to see them the next day.

can you check your space junk, satellite softwares and see if anything was visible (space wise) from her location?

 

[Mick West]

Defined edges, reflective, obvious tail, just a 30 degree angle from the sun, if I'm the vertex. It traveled slowly, but clearly moved in relation to other nearby points of reference

This sounds like a short sunlit contrail.
https://www.metabunk.org/threads/more-strange-lights-in-the-sky-short-sunlit-contrails.2582/

http://contrailscience.com/short-sunlit-contrails-look-like-ufos/

 

[shannonwegsc]

I did accidentally take this photo initially before filming. You can only zoom in so much. But I'll let you know when I get the video up.

 

[shannonwegsc]

I uploaded the video to YouTube, it should be up at 10:00 PM, so about 10 minutes from now.


Source: https://youtube.com/shorts/dst_7ay6q2I?feature=share

 

[shannonwegsc]

This sounds like a short sunlit contrail.
https://www.metabunk.org/threads/more-strange-lights-in-the-sky-short-sunlit-contrails.2582/
View attachment 88141

http://contrailscience.com/short-sunlit-contrails-look-like-ufos/
View attachment 88142

Yes, that looks about right. What causes these?

 

[shannonwegsc]

Yes, that looks about right. What causes these?

Yes, that looks about right. What causes these?

So this is just from a plane then?

 

[Mick West]

I uploaded the video to YouTube, it should be up at 10:00 PM, so about 10 minutes from now.


Source: https://youtube.com/shorts/dst_7ay6q2I?feature=share

That's 100% an ordinary contrail. Condensation behind the plane, viewed at a shallow angle.

 

[Mick West]

I thought it looked like a 747. They have a distinctive, large double swoop of contrail.

Flight AIH242, Reg HL7620. Air Zeta cargo flight.

https://www.metabunk.org/sitrec/?cu...azonaws.com/1/shannonwegsc/20260129_053810.js

 

[deirdre]

What causes these?

super simple explanation: water vapor from the engine freezes so looks white. just like our cars on winter mornings if the humidity is high enough, all that white stuff comes out of the cars mufflers.

Flight AIH242, Reg HL7620. Air Zeta cargo flight.

show off.

so.. its not one that persisted and floated. we are watching a plane in flight flying away-ish.

 

[Mick West]

Here's a video I took showing a similar contrail at various stages

 

[Mendel]

This sighting took place today, January 28, 2026 at 10:45-11:00 AM central time.

I'd just like to say that's a good video, as clear and as long as can be, with date/time/location well documented (and direction can be derived from the sun). That made it easy to identify. But it'd also have been good evidence if it had been something more unusual. Thanks for posting here!

 

[shannonwegsc]

Thanks guys! My husband and I had quite the laugh last night after I told him your answer .

It's really awesome that you are doing this! Really, so cool!

 

[deirdre]

Really, so cool!

contrails are pretty cool too. besides the contrails formed from the engine 'exhaust' (water byproduct).. there are aerodynamic contrails which dont come from the engines but rather air pressure (the guys probably hate my none scientific descriptions )

Mick's contrailscience.com is a good source if anyone's interested, or of course there is a whole forum here on Metabunk.