--- title: "NASA Satellite Inspects Strange-Looking Cloud That Always Forms in Same Spot" description: "A NASA observation satellite has spotted odd UFO-shaped cloud hovering above the Otago region in southeastern New Zealand." date: "2024-10-24" modified: "2024-10-24" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-satellite-cloud-taieri-pet" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "clouds" - "new zealand" - "the digest" --- # NASA Satellite Inspects Strange-Looking Cloud That Always Forms in Same Spot ![A NASA observation satellite has spotted odd UFO-shaped cloud hovering above the Otago region in southeastern New Zealand.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Pet Names A NASA observation satellite has imaged an oddly-shaped cloud hovering above the Strath-Taieri region in southeastern New Zealand. A satellite [image]() shared by the space agency and taken on September 7 shows an unusual, elongated cloud nestled along a rocky mountain range. The strange-looking cloud formation often occurs in the same spot, leading locals to dub it the "Taieri Pet." Though it sounds like alien sci-fi, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation: the peculiar cloud is an altocumulus standing lenticular cloud (ASLC), according to NASA, which is created when winds encounter a steep barrier such as a mountain range. Winds get swept up, creating a standing wave while air at the crest of the wave cools down enough to form water vapor, which condenses into clouds. "As the cloud forms on the crest of this wave, it remains almost stationary in the sky and is shaped by the strong winds blowing through it," explained New Zealand’s MetService meteorologist John Law in a [NASA statement](). ## Blowing Clouds Other ASLC clouds can take on even more unusual shapes, appearing as a pile of [stacked disc shapes]() or narrow bowls that reach high up into the sky. Even the Taieri Pet, [when viewed from the side](), appears as stacked layers of clouds that reach hundreds of feet into the air, giving it an even more UFO-like appearance. "What is unique about these clouds is that they are very dynamic, and while each individual air parcel is undergoing this cycle of cooling and condensing and warming and evaporating, visually, the cloud appears to be standing still," weather observer Karl Philippoff explained in a [blog post]() for the Mount Washington Observatory. With its extremely crisp edges, the Taieri Pet is actually the result of some extremely strong environmental forces. "The appearance of the Taieri Pet is a great indicator of strong winds high in the atmosphere," Law explained. Unsurprisingly, flying near the cloud can be hazardous and result in severe turbulence, according to NASA. **More on clouds:** *[Oops! Geoengineering Trick to Cool Brutal Heat Could Spike Temperature Elsewhere, Scientists Say]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()