What are these circles? I took this at an airshow. When I started editing it I noticed concentric circles around the aircraft. I messed with the editing to make it more pronounced. Can anyone explain it to me. I've never seen it before.
Posted by MrMcfarkus79@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 37 comments
Jerry67876@reddit
Water mark of the ai you used to generate the image.. lol /s
Skilldibop@reddit
They're sound waves essentially caused by the jet exhaust being at or close to the speed of sound.
MrMcfarkus79@reddit (OP)
That was my thought. Wasn't sure if it was done kind of booming percussive sound from the exhaust or mach diamonds etc
BigBlueBurd@reddit
You can see the same effect but much more clearly on some rocket launches. Look for ripple effects in the dust/water plumes they kick up when the engines are lit.
halcyon_aporia@reddit
It’s extremely pronounced in Starship launches, before it has fully cleared the tower.
Substantial_Elk_5779@reddit
technically speaking, the air density is changing due to the compression from the exhaust. this density change changes the refractive index of the air, causing light to bend slightly creating these visual patterns
harryygee@reddit
This guy is spot on… go look up the concept of schillinger imaging! We used this stuff to learn about shockwaves and expansion fans in my aero engineering undergrad.
ship_toaster@reddit
I think you're thinking of schlieren photography.
stewieatb@reddit
I think you mean Schlieren imaging?
combo_seizure@reddit
Could you please tell me what's happening when they break the sound barrier? I thought I knew, but now, I don't think I do.
The photo is incredible.
philippkauf@reddit
Thanks elk
Skilldibop@reddit
Of you look at the centre point they're originating from it's the exhaust ports. Mach diamonds would originate from the leading edges of the airframe
WarthogOsl@reddit
Mach diamonds are the literal diamond shapes that repeat inside the exhaust, behind the engines.
MrMcfarkus79@reddit (OP)
I can post a shot of mach diamonds and a kind of condensation cone.
Mr-Brown-Is-A-Wonder@reddit
Mach diamonds are not that.
Mr__Rager__69@reddit
Happy cake day sick shots too btw
Master-Bad910@reddit
Woahohoaaaa seeing the sound of the engines! That’s wild. It took me a second to see what the OP was referring to. That is incredible.
DeathPrime@reddit
Happy cake day! Thanks for sharing an awesome pic. I knew we all could hear the pops of the engine exhaust but had no idea it had enough mass to cause shockwaves. Please share other awesome pics.
RentedAndDented@reddit
That's cool as. Was it an Australian Super Hornet? Just asking because they often airshow in a config like that.
Master-Bad910@reddit
Fantastic shot, OP.
insomniac-55@reddit
When you can see the sound, you know it's pretty fucking loud.
niro_27@reddit
Wait until you experience a rocket launch. You will feel the sound in your chest. From >10km (6mi) away
MrMcfarkus79@reddit (OP)
It sure was :)
CloudBreakerZivs@reddit
That may be one of the most true things I’ve ever seen
Humble_Matter_8298@reddit
Hot Air from the engines
MrMcfarkus79@reddit (OP)
Might have to zoom in a touch. Look at the circles in the clouds below the jet
javlarm8@reddit
That’s not what he asked about.
anonlifeless@reddit
You are seeing physics in action.
Fast-Implement-5773@reddit
What a cool shot
I-live-in-room-101@reddit
Great shot. You are literally seeing sound.
rygelicus@reddit
Exactly. The sound of the engines is radiating out and compressing the air in waves which then refracts the light causing this.
mpg111@reddit
/r/shockwaveporn/
fantastic photo! congrats!
pluralpolyamouromath@reddit
The exhaust of the engines is extremely loud, making the compression peaks of the sound waves visible, and the sound waveform appears to have a wavelength peak in the tens of centimeter range, so probably around 300-3000 Hz in frequency for the component that's producing these wavefronts.
blaq_marketeer@reddit
Engine exhaust is creating a continuous shock wave and you are looking down that shock cone. Awesome picture.
TheSoberCannibal@reddit
Great shot that's pretty cool
ItsMeOnly3@reddit
Either your lens correction uses faulty profile or you just captured transonic shockwave forming. Either way, a very cool photo.
post-explainer@reddit
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