A sense of wonder swept across Britain as a swirling blue-white spiral was spotted in the night sky on Monday. Many who witnessed the eerie phenomenon took to social media, jokingly speculating about extraterrestrial visitors or portals to unknown dimensions.
Scientific Explanation Behind the Phenomenon
Despite the otherworldly appearance, experts have provided a scientific explanation. The spectacle was attributed to the frozen remnants of fuel expelled from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which had been launched for the classified NROL-69 mission on behalf of the U.S. government. When excess fuel is released into the upper atmosphere, it rapidly expands due to the near-vacuum conditions, freezing into tiny ice crystals. These ice particles reflect sunlight, producing a glowing, spiraling effect in the sky before eventually dispersing into water vapor.
This remarkable visual effect is not uncommon following SpaceX launches. When rockets enter orbit, they go through multiple stages, with the first stage separating and the second stage continuing its mission. The second stage often carries out a deorbit burn, where excess fuel is vented. If this happens while the rocket is spinning, the expelled fuel spreads out in a spiral pattern, creating an optical illusion visible from the ground.
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The altitude at which the fuel is released plays a crucial role in its visibility. High-altitude releases occur in the upper mesosphere or lower thermosphere, where sunlight can still reach the particles long after sunset. This is why these spirals often appear at night, glowing against the darker sky. Additionally, due to the lack of atmospheric turbulence at such altitudes, the spiral remains perfectly formed for an extended period before dissipating.
This phenomenon has been observed multiple times worldwide, often causing alarm or wonder among those unaware of the science behind it. The distinct spiral shape occurs because the expelled fuel is ejected in a controlled manner while the rocket rotates. Unlike conventional contrails left by aircraft, which dissipate quickly due to wind currents, these spirals persist longer and maintain their structured form due to the vacuum-like conditions at high altitudes.
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Social Media Reactions and Public Speculation
One astonished observer shared their experience on social media, stating, “Just saw this strange spiral of light while my child and I were stargazing. Any ideas what it could be? I heard it might be a @SpaceX rocket, but I didn’t expect to see it from Yorkshire. It was there one moment and gone the next!“
Another individual commented on the surreal sight, asking, “What could this be? A rocket outgassing? A fueling event? Aliens?”
Reports of the spiral flooded in from various locations, including Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Stoke-on-Trent, Hampshire, Kent, and even parts of Wales. One observer described seeing a bright object in the night sky, encircled by a thin, wispy spiral that seemed to radiate from its core.
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Official Explanation from Experts
The Met Office acknowledged the numerous reports and responded via social media, confirming a logical explanation. “This is most likely a result of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched earlier today. The frozen exhaust plume appears to be spinning in the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and creating the spiral effect seen in the sky.”
Expanding on this, atmospheric scientists explained that the plume was likely the result of the second-stage deorbit burn, a maneuver performed by rockets to safely dispose of their upper stages after completing their mission. This process releases leftover fuel in a controlled manner to ensure the rocket does not become space debris.
Renowned physicist Professor Brian Cox also addressed the phenomenon, sharing a video of the Falcon 9 launch from Florida earlier that day. “For everyone asking about the strange spiral seen tonight—it is related to this launch,” he explained. His statement reinforced the idea that such celestial displays, while uncommon, are well-documented results of modern rocketry.
UK Astronomy provided further clarification, confirming that the spiral was indeed caused by the second-stage deorbit burn of the SpaceX Falcon 9. The organization noted that these events have been increasingly visible in recent years due to the growing frequency of space missions and the improved clarity of night skies in certain regions.
Experts have emphasized that while the sight might appear mysterious to the untrained eye, the physics behind it is well understood. Rocket launches from various space agencies, including NASA, SpaceX, and even China’s CNSA, have produced similar effects, reinforcing the consistency of the explanation.
Similar Sightings Around the World
This was not the first time such a spectacle had been witnessed. A similar event occurred in 2022 over New Zealand when a Falcon 9 rocket dumped its excess fuel, producing a luminous blue swirl. As the rocket rotated while venting fuel, the resulting vapor trail caught the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing pattern that glided smoothly across the night sky.
A comparable sighting was reported in 2021, linked to China’s Long March 2C rocket, which had launched a satellite into orbit. Some likened the mysterious display to the portal from the “Doctor Strange” film, but astronomer Jonathan McDowell provided a scientific breakdown. “The spiral effect occurs when a tumbling rocket vents its remaining fuel. It resembles a garden sprinkler in space, except that, due to the vacuum, the spiral remains perfectly intact over great distances. On Earth, wind and atmospheric friction would distort the shape, but in space, it remains pristine.”
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A parallel event took place in Norway in December 2009. A striking blue spiral illuminated the early morning sky, later determined to be the result of a Russian missile test. The Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, launched from a submarine in the White Sea, suffered a third-stage failure, leading to the spectacular visual. Norwegians who witnessed the anomaly described it as a spinning fireball with a radiant halo, while others likened it to a shooting star tracing a hypnotic spiral through the atmosphere.
The Future of Such Phenomena
These celestial spirals, though often perplexing, have logical scientific explanations. As technology and space exploration continue to advance, such fascinating displays are likely to become more common, captivating skywatchers across the globe.
