A stunning blue spiral light, likely from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, illuminated the night sky over Europe, captivating viewers and sparking discussions on social media.
A mesmerizing blue light, reminiscent of a cosmic whirlpool, lit up the night sky over Europe on Monday. This extraordinary phenomenon was captured in striking video footage and is believed to have been caused by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The time-lapse video, recorded in Croatia around 4 p.m. EST (9 p.m. local time), showcases the glowing spiral as it traverses the sky. Many social media users compared the sight to a spiral galaxy, highlighting its ethereal beauty. The full video, when played at normal speed, lasts approximately six minutes.
The Met Office in the U.K. reported receiving numerous accounts of an “illuminated swirl in the sky.” Experts indicated that the light was likely a result of the SpaceX rocket, which had launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at around 1:50 p.m. EST as part of the classified NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the U.S. government’s intelligence and surveillance agency.
“This is likely to be caused by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched earlier today,” the Met Office stated on X. “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.”
This glowing spectacle is often referred to as a “SpaceX spiral,” according to Space.com. Such spirals occur when the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket separates from its first-stage booster. As the upper stage continues its journey into space, the lower stage descends back to Earth, releasing any remaining fuel. This fuel freezes almost instantly at high altitudes, and sunlight reflects off the frozen particles, creating the striking glow observed in the sky.
Fox News Digital reached out to SpaceX for further comment but did not receive an immediate response. The stunning display in the sky came just days after a SpaceX team, in collaboration with NASA, successfully returned two astronauts who had been stranded in space.
The captivating blue spiral not only delighted onlookers but also served as a reminder of the intricate and often spectacular phenomena associated with space exploration and rocket launches. As technology continues to advance, such displays may become more common, sparking curiosity and wonder among those who gaze upward.
According to Space.com, these phenomena highlight the remarkable interplay between human ingenuity and the natural world, as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.