People across Europe were treated to a stunning sight this week: a glowing blue spiral in the night sky. This unusual phenomenon was observed in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, and France, on Monday night. The spiral lasted for several minutes before it gradually faded away.
The Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, shared insights on social media, suggesting that the spiral was likely caused by the frozen exhaust from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This reusable rocket is designed to transport people and cargo into space. According to the Met Office, the rocket’s frozen exhaust plume was spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting sunlight, which created the mesmerizing spiral effect.
“Many reports came in about the illuminated swirl in the sky,” the Met Office noted. “The rocket’s frozen exhaust plume appears to be spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting the sunlight, causing it to appear as a spiral in the sky.”
The Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida earlier that day. About eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s first stage returned to the landing zone, creating a sonic boom as it descended.
This isn’t the first time a SpaceX rocket has created a spectacular display in the sky. Earlier this month, another SpaceX rocket launch resulted in visible debris falling from the sky after a test flight ended in an explosion. That incident disrupted air traffic as planes had to divert to avoid the debris.
The blue spiral seen this week captivated many onlookers, reminding them of the wonders of space exploration and the technology behind it. As SpaceX continues its missions, such dazzling displays may become more common, showcasing both the excitement and unpredictability of rocket launches.