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50 Times The Sky Surprised Us With Fascinating Cloud Shapes You May Not Believe Are Real
If you’ve ever indulged in the habit of cloudspotting, you’ve probably seen all kinds of things in the sky, from animals and faces to UFOs and cartoon characters. But did you know that our tendency to see images in random objects like clouds, vegetation and even everyday objects comes down to an interesting psychological phenomenon called pareidolia?
Famed astrophysicist and author, Carl Sagan, believed that this ability evolved to help us recognize faces instantly in order to ascertain their emotional state, even in murky conditions. Tuck into this collection of 130 clouds doing interesting things and never forget to keep your eye on the sky - you never know what you might see.
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#1
Cloud Formation That Appeared To Look Like An Ocean In The Sky
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#2
Mt. Fuji Today - Rare Lenticular Cloud
#3
A Fire Rainbow Cloud In The Shape Of A Tornado
Did you know that an average cumulus cloud can weigh as much as 500 tons? That’s about the weight of a jumbo jet. Clouds can move at speeds of up to 120 mph depending on the wind conditions at their altitude. There are even cosmic clouds in outer space, like the giant alcohol cloud in W3(OH), a very bright, compact HII region within the W3 complex, an enormous stellar nursery.
#4
Just A Camel Wandering In A Desert Of Clouds
Terri Rowland 1 year ago
That's amazing, it even looks like it's a separate thing walking along...
#5
Noticed That A Cloud Behind My Girlfriend Looked Like A Thought Bubble
Bill Swallow 1 year ago
Any comment made about it being blank would definitely be a very bad idea, and get one in a LOT of trouble.
#6
This Cloud Looks Like An Eagle Going After A Fish (Muskegon, Mi)
The CSIRO website lists some little-known cloud facts that are truly fascinating. For example, thunderstorm clouds can be green and nobody knows why, dandruff floating in the atmosphere helps form clouds, and a cloudless sky can be called “enubilous”. Pollen, algae, fur, and bacteria also contribute to cloud formation.
#7
I Saw A Lenticular Cloud Over A Cumulus Cloud That Made It Look Like A Helicopter
#9
Cloud From The Storm Today, Looks Like A Horror Movie
If you’re a fan of cloudspotting, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s an official Cloud Appreciation Society with their own website and a healthy following on Instagram and Facebook. The site features a cloud a day, cloud of the month, and even a book, Cloudspotting for Beginners.
#10
Godzilla Cloud
#11
Ball Shaped Cloud Captured In Japan
#12
This Cloud Looks Like A Fish/Shark
Earlier this year, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) got together to launch a 3-year mission called EarthCARE. The mission’s aim is to profile Earth’s clouds to see what effect they are having on climate change.
#13
This Funky Little Ribbon Cloud Outside My Plane Window
Marsha Hultberg 1 year ago
Love this! Though sadly, these beautiful, rare, natural images bring AI to mind... AI is a trickster, and will ultimately trick its creators. Think plastic... also brilliant once upon a time. ✨ Unintended ramble -- nature is imperative. Technology?
#14
This Cloud Looks Like A Breaking Wave
#15
A Cloud That Looks Like A Hat
#16
Cloud Looks Like A Cat Reaching For The Sky
Launched at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, EarthCARE, an acronym for Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer, is outfitted with a range of instruments able to construct 3D profiles of clouds and aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere.
#17
This Cloud Looks Like A Feather
#18
Just A Bear Cloud
#19
Cloud Kinda Looks Like Ocean
#20
This Cloud That Looks Like A UFO
No clouds? No problem. Cloud seeding, a fascinating weather modification technique, involves introducing substances like silver iodide, salt, or dry ice into clouds to encourage the formation of raindrops or snowflakes. This method has been implemented in various places around the world to address water shortages, agricultural needs, and even manage extreme weather events like wildfires.
#21
This Beautiful Cloud Pattern
#23
This Cloud That Looks Like Crocodile Or Alligator Head
It seems clouds will continue to fascinate scientists, meteorologists, and us mere mortals alike for generations to come. Pack your picnic blanket, head for your favorite place in nature, and cast your eyes towards the heavens, because the clouds have plenty to show you!
#26
Incredible Face My Father Shot In The Clouds
#27
This Cloud Looks Like A Person Blowing Smoke Out Of Their Mouth
#28
Strange Cloud In Rapid City, South Dakota
#29
Cloud Duck Over The Skies Of Sofia, Bulgaria
#30
A Cloud, Which Resembles A Polar Bear, From My Walk Earlier Today
#31
The Clouds Outside My Plane Window Look Like An Alien Landscape
#32
Shark Cloud With Moon Eye
#33
This Cloud Looks Like A Soldier Shooting A Gun
#34
Clouds Looked Like A Tsunami The Other Day
#35
This Cloud That Looks Like A Plane
#36
Looks Like A Hand Coming Out Of The Sky
#37
Bubbly Clouds
#39
Thunderstorm Clouds Looked Like An Angry Bird From The Plane
#40
This Cloud Looks Like A Farting Squirrel
#41
The Clouds Outside My House Looked Like A Phoenix
#42
We Live By The Sea Where Dolphins Are
#43
This Cloud Looks Like A Cat, And A Dog
#44
Unsure If I Saw A Cloud Or A Dragon The Other Day
#45
Crazy Looking Hole Punch Clouds Over Central Florida
#46
Someone Put A Smiley Face In The Clouds
#48
Mystery Chopstick Clouds In Centreville, Va Tonight
#56
Looks Like Someone Was Sitting On The Clouds
#58
I Flew Past Clouds That Looked Like Spongebob And Gary A Few Nights Ago
#60
Cloud That Looks Like A Pig's Head
#61
This Clouds Resemblance Of A Man Smoking
Marsha Hultberg 1 year ago
Or projectile vomiting! (or with a light bulb in his mouth) 😆 Sorry, couldn't resist.
#62
I Was Taking A Picture Of This Cloud That Looks Like A Feather When A Bird Flew Into The Shot
#65
A Cloud Heart Formed Over Our Wedding Arch
#66
This Cloud I Saw In China Looked Like A Dragon
Terri Rowland 1 year ago
There's lots of clouds that are intricate shaped that have just been called dragon shaped, but I've never seen dragons looking anything like those ones at all, and I have a really broad range of thought when it comes down to imagining different shaped things...
#68
Glyph Found On Peak Near Contzen Pass, Saguaro Natl Park, Arizona, USA. Clouds Resemble Glyph
WindySwede 1 year ago
OP: "Thank you! I really did not edit this, I have no explanation as to how this happened. I think I somehow did some camera magic by accident when shooting it haha! I asked r/askphotography for help explaining it lol"
#70
The Clouds Were Giving Me A Thumbs Up
#71
Cloud Looks Like Baby Yoda
#72
The Cloud In This Photo Looks Like A Witch On A Broomstick
#75
This Picture My Dad Sent Me Of A Cloud That Looks Like A Shark
#76
This Lenticular Cloud That Resembles An Sr-71
#79
Went Boating On Saratoga Lake, NY And Saw This Cloud That Looks Like A Victorian Lady
#81
Cloud That Looks Like A Guy About To Eat A Sandwich
#82
This Picture Taken At Dusk, Shows This Cloud On Top Of Mt. Baker. What Type Of Cloud Is This?
Dusty's mom 1 year ago
Lenticular? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud&ved=2ahUKEwiLpbbv64KKAxW-AHkGHWIJLG4QFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2KLhci7iZp2uuszMJ8jAF7
#84
Clouds Look Like White Flames
#85
Strange Cloud
#86
A Lenticular Cloud Over Mt. Baker. As Observed From The Fraser Valley In Bc, Mt. Baker's North Side View With A Lenticular Cloud Hanging On Top Of This Beautiful Active Volcano With A Glacial, Snow Covered Peak
#90
A Cloud That Looks Like A Praying Cat
#92
Taken From My Snapchat A Few Years Ago
#93
This Cloud Looks Like Sonic The Hedgehog
#95
Bunny Cloud
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I think it looks like a crawling baby with their hair up in a ponytail.
#102
This Cloud Looks Like A Hammer Striking An Anvil
#103
Like A Hummingbird Suckin On A Flower
#106
These Clouds The Other Night
#107
Took These Photo Earlier Today On A Hike At Mount Charleston, Nevada. Me And My Friend Couldn’t Help But Notice How This Cloud Looked Liked A Portal/Moon. I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This In My Life
#110
The Way The Cloud Fell Down From The Other Cloud A Few Days Ago
#111
This Happened An Hour Ago, Anyone Know What These Clouds Mean?
Dusty's mom 1 year ago
Mammatus clouds. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammatus_cloud&ved=2ahUKEwirmKGi7oKKAxXemIkEHbo9HsEQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3ULHFXC84BJDQcGWxcLWCA
#113
Santa And His Reindeer
#114
Took A Picture Of These Weird Clouds Today
#118
Face In The Clouds? Top Right Of Picture, I See A Smiling Face
#120
How These Clouds Are Shaped Over My Campus. Like A Bob Ross Painting
#122
Triangle In The Clouds. The Craziest Thing Was How It Eventually Dissipated. I Expected The Crosswind To Break The Shape Up As Time Went On, But Instead The Cloud Just Thinned Out And Disappeared. It Kept The Shape The Whole Time
#123
This Cloud Over Scottsdale, Az Looks Like A Great White Shark
#128
Cloud That Looks Like A Face. Took A Picture Of This Cloud I Saw That Looks Like A Face While On Holiday In Italy, Last Year During The Summer
Terri Rowland 1 year ago
This looks very much like the sphinx outside the pyramids of Egypt, I can just see it in the clouds looking all tall and regal..
#129
Tonight I Saw Mufasa, Looking Down At Us From A Cloud
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What do you think ?
Dusty's mom 1 year ago
It's amazing seeing the wonderful shapes and types of clouds! I really enjoyed this! ☺
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
This is a beautiful article. Wow. Clouds. One of the awesome things in the world that we take for granted so easily. Thank you so much. Looking forward to more like this about leaves, seashells, sand, etc.
Dusty's mom 1 year ago
It's amazing seeing the wonderful shapes and types of clouds! I really enjoyed this! ☺
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
This is a beautiful article. Wow. Clouds. One of the awesome things in the world that we take for granted so easily. Thank you so much. Looking forward to more like this about leaves, seashells, sand, etc.
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