Back in 2003 I was flying an Angel Flight in a C172 from Philadelphia up to Bedford, Mass. Crossing over Long Island we were cleared direct to the JFK VOR at 5,000 feet. It was a cool sight to see a couple of 747 departures out of JFK looking straight down at them. However, that was only the warm up.
A lone thunderstorm cell, perhaps towering up to 35,000 feet or so, grew out of the haze straight ahead in our windshield. Not having any on-board weather to confirm the cell's location I called NY approach and asked for 10 degrees left to deviate around weather, thinking the cell was fifteen miles ahead in our path. NY replied that there was nothing on his scope for at least 80 miles but deviation approved as requested anyhow.
After speaking with Flight Watch, my pilot-rated friend in the right seat informed me that this cell was actually heading towards Providence, Rhode Island, or at least 100 miles away. Whoops, I guess the first time seeing a thunderstorm cell from the air was an overreaction. Anyway, since the sun had just set the lightning moving up and down the cell was very predominant. Suddenly, the full moon slowly rose from behind the cell. With lightning flashing in the cell and a full moon slowly appearing above it, it was surreal. Unfortunately neither of us nor the AF passenger had a camera to record the moment.