You can clearly see the shockwaves.

The image above is fantastic.

It depicts a U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School T-38C passing in front of the sun at supersonic speed, generating shockwaves.

The photograph was taken by NASA for research purposes using a modern version of schlieren imagery, a 150-year-old German photography technique, used to visualize supersonic flow phenomena with full-scale aircraft in flight.

According to NASA, the results of the research will help engineers to design a quiet supersonic transport aircraft.

Image Credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich

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