Look: Sky Whale Spotted over Texas; The Science of Pareidolia Explained

On April 26, Reddit user Karzdan shared a photo of a cloud formation that strikingly resembled a whale. The picture was first shared on Facebook by Jeremy M. Alvarado, who claimed that his sister-in-law’s grandchildren had taken it while out for a walk.  The photo quickly went viral, finding its way to Reddit’s “Pareidolia” subgroup—a community dedicated to sharing pictures of things that look like other things.

The post sparked a wave of humorous and imaginative comments. Reddit user robseraiva led the charge with the comment, “DONT PANIC.” Others joined in with remarks like “Oh no, not again,” and “GOJIRA!” drawing comparisons between the cloud and Godzilla, the iconic king of monsters. Another user, Anonfamous, quipped, “See? Due to all the stay-at-home orders and the slowing of human interference with nature, whales have finally returned to the Texas skies,” referring to the lockdown orders issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott from April 2 to April 30.

Adding to the fun, Redditor access153 commented, “That’s a major 42 if I’ve ever seen one,” a nod to Douglas Adams’ famous book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where the number 42 is humorously cited as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

What is Pareidolia?

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon where people perceive familiar patterns or images, such as faces or objects, in random stimuli. The term is derived from the Greek words “para” (meaning faulty or wrong) and “eidōlon” (meaning image, shape, or form). Essentially, it’s the tendency to see significant shapes in places where they don’t actually exist—like seeing a face in the clouds or the image of Jesus on a piece of toast. Pareidolia is a type of apophenia, which involves finding patterns in randomness.

Pareidolia is thought by scientists to be the cause of numerous accounts of monster sightings, UFO sightings, and even the perception of hidden messages while listening to records backward. There are frequently theological ramifications to this occurrence. Research has indicated that individuals who hold fervent religious convictions or believe in paranormal phenomena have a higher probability of perceiving faces in inanimate items or unaltered natural environments.

American cosmologist Carl Sagan proposed that pareidolia is an evolutionary survival tool. This instinct helped early humans quickly identify whether an approaching figure was friend or foe. However, this same instinct can also lead to false perceptions, such as seeing faces in random patterns of light and shadow.

The Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth bearing the picture of a man who looks to have undergone injuries compatible with crucifixion, is a well-known example of pareidolia in religious contexts. Though there are differing interpretations and scientific data, many people think it to be the picture of Jesus.

While the “whale” spotted in the Texas sky may not have religious significance, it certainly captured people’s imaginations, providing some lighthearted distraction during challenging times.