What phenomenon can create the illusion of a single massive, dark object moving overhead, when the visible cloud layer is actually thinner?
Answer
The shadow cast by a large, higher cloud layer onto a lower, dense layer.
The illusion of a single massive dark object can occur when a large, higher cloud layer casts its shadow onto a lower, thinner, but still dense layer, making the lower layer appear much darker than it would under direct sunlight.
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