Although this video is being used by some to question the cause of circular streaks of light near the horizon, and what kind of craft would cause it, I just think it's a beautiful piece of photography.

Taken near a shipwreck at Nags Head, on the Outer Banks, by photographic artist Wes Snyder.

For those that want to read more about it:

Watch: Time Lapse Video Captures Odd 'Red Trails' in Sky Off North Carolina Coast



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rWY2QvGsga0

Very Cool. The opening scenes from, the Netflix series Bloodlines the do the time lapse effect on a beach in the Florida keys.

That’s neat. I wonder what that was?

Years ago I went on a surf/camping trip with a bunch of friends I’d known since high school. We surfed Hatteras mostly and camped at Oregon inlet near the Coast Guard station. The absence of development & light pollution in that area makes for some incredible stargazing. I’ll never forget my friends comments and the magnificent view we had of the stars.

That area really lets you experience the Outer Banks as it was before mankind developed the absolute hell out of that place.

Given that the circular patterns appear to move at relatively the same speed as cruising aircraft moving in a straight line, I extrapolate that they are themselves aircraft. My guess is military either on maneuvers or even investigating surface radar anomalies.

With a few exceptions, the circles appear in relatively the same airspace. My guess is Navy/Marine aircraft conducting night air refueling from NAS Oceana, MCAS Beaufort and/or MCAS Cherry Point. There's also fleet air training that occurs from ships off the coast. Been awhile since I flew in the VACAPES Operating Area, so not sure if there are designated Air Refueling tracks or where they're located.

It needs the soundtrack form the X Files added.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
With a few exceptions, the circles appear in relatively the same airspace. My guess is Navy/Marine aircraft conducting night air refueling from NAS Oceana, MCAS Beaufort and/or MCAS Cherry Point. There's also fleet air training that occurs from ships off the coast. Been awhile since I flew in the VACAPES Operating Area, so not sure if there are designated Air Refueling tracks or where they're located.

This is most likely.

Having flown on similar flights from Eglin, orbits are used for various purposes that would look exactly like this.

ECM (electronic countermeasures) circuit, refueling circuits, range safety sweeps, recon of visual, IR, electronic, and carrier flight ops are some of the things.