3 ms·
I mentioned another possibility in one of my other comments; a UV laser on a satellite (or some other suitable platform with a view of the entire flight volume,
by inflatableDodo 8y ago
I mentioned another possibility in one of my other comments; a UV laser on a satellite (or some other suitable platform with a view of the entire flight volume, or multiple overlapping platforms) being focused to create a movable plasmaball.
- viraptor 8y ago> object did not emit hot jet exhaust Is jet exhaust distinguishable from hot plasma ball in IR?
- inflatableDodo 8y agoA plasma ball being moved by redirecting a laser generating it won't emit an exhaust tail. I'm thinking a very very big version of this - https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/07/a-floating-holographic-plasma-display-that-you-can-touch/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/07/a-floating-holograph...
- viraptor 8y agoI think you misunderstood. I was asking if you're looking at infrared view, would you be able to tell a difference between a jet's exhaust and a plasma ball (of a similar size) in a long distance.
- inflatableDodo 8y agoA jet exhaust would change noticably as the aircraft rotates. If it is only racing away on a fixed line, maybe not, but otherwise I would think so.
- JulianMorrison 8y agoIf somebody has a laser that big, with batteries that good, that's an issue in itself.
- inflatableDodo 8y agoTrue, it does seem pretty unlikely. But if the reports are in any way accurate, then the explanation will be probably something that seems pretty unlikely.