Look Up... very strange phenomena in skies.. Any Explanations

[Jimaz]

... With all those cross paths, and so many trails, it is a wonder they don't have any collisions....

This afternoon I did notice one pair of contrails that appeared to intersect at right angles. This was observed from near Utica and is unusual.

I probably do more sky gazing than most folks just because I find it interesting. [[Could clouds be carved/shaped with lasers?! ) Normally I see contrails going westward, rarely eastward. Not sure why. I've always heard that it's Selfridge traffic. Aviation radio enthusiasts might be able to confirm that.

"Intersect at right angles" might be misleading. Perpendicular air traffic routinely travels at different altitudes [["flight levels," in aviation speak) to avoid collision.

[MikeM]

This afternoon I did notice one pair of contrails that appeared to intersect at right angles. This was observed from near Utica and is unusual.

I probably do more sky gazing than most folks just because I find it interesting. [[Could clouds be carved/shaped with lasers?! ) Normally I see contrails going westward, rarely eastward. Not sure why. I've always heard that it's Selfridge traffic. Aviation radio enthusiasts might be able to confirm that.

"Intersect at right angles" might be misleading. Perpendicular air traffic routinely travels at different altitudes [["flight levels") to avoid collision.

Traffic in or out of Selfridge would be too low over southeast Michigan to make contrails.

Traffic crossing at right angles is not unusual although there is more east-west traffic here than north-south. The trails you see crossing could be aircraft at different altitudes.