Evening Sky

Even though the snow and temperatures in the teens say "winter," the changing light is calling out "spring."  Walking this evening, from work to the metro station, I noticed several jet contrails in the sky.  Two were at perfect right angles, forming a cross against the blue evening sky.

Over in the southwest, the sky was peach hued with the setting sun.  Standing on the platform waiting for the train, I noticed more contrails - the atmospheric conditions up at 30,000 feet must have been perfect.  I could see blue sky behind a wispy layer of cloud.

Then I noticed that everything in the sky was moving.  The contrails laid out by jets long gone from view were sliding quickly from southwest to northeast.  There was no wind at ground level, but major airflow higher up.  I watched one contrail appear from behind a building and move at an angle, both toward me and across the sky to the east.   Far above it was the moon - just a tiny sliver lit - and barely contrasting with the gradually deepening sky.

My train came and I got on for the perhaps three minute ride to Takoma.  When I emerged from the station and looked up, the sky was completely different, so quickly was the air moving.