Category: Technology

Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday after 53 years in orbit following a failed mission to Venus.

A Soviet-era spacecraft made its return to Earth on Saturday, marking the end of a 53-year journey that began with a failed attempt to reach Venus. The spacecraft, known as Kosmos 482, was confirmed to have reentered Earth’s atmosphere by the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking, which analyzed its trajectory and noted its absence from subsequent orbits.

The European Space Agency’s space debris office corroborated the reentry, indicating that the spacecraft failed to appear on radar at a German station. While the exact location of its descent remains unknown, experts had warned that some, if not all, of the half-ton spacecraft could survive the fiery reentry, as it was designed to endure the extreme conditions of a landing on Venus, the hottest planet in the solar system.

Scientists assessed the risks associated with the reentry, noting that the likelihood of anyone being struck by debris from the spacecraft was exceedingly low. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions aimed at Venus. However, a rocket malfunction prevented this particular spacecraft from escaping Earth’s orbit, leaving it stranded for over five decades.

Much of Kosmos 482 had already reentered Earth’s atmosphere within a decade of its failed launch. The spherical lander, which measures approximately 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and weighs over 1,000 pounds (495 kilograms), was the last remaining component of the spacecraft to descend. Experts noted that the lander was encased in titanium, contributing to its durability during reentry.

As the spacecraft spiraled downward, scientists and military experts were unable to predict the precise timing or location of its reentry. The uncertainty was compounded by solar activity and the deteriorating condition of the spacecraft after so many years in orbit.

As of Saturday morning, the U.S. Space Command had not yet confirmed the spacecraft’s demise, as it was still collecting and analyzing data from orbit. The U.S. Space Command routinely monitors dozens of reentries each month, but Kosmos 482 garnered additional attention from both government and private space trackers due to its likelihood of surviving reentry.

Unlike many other pieces of space debris, Kosmos 482 was coming in uncontrolled, with no intervention from flight controllers. Typically, these controllers aim to direct old satellites and debris toward vast expanses of water, such as the Pacific Ocean, to minimize the risk to populated areas.

The reentry of Kosmos 482 serves as a reminder of the long-lasting legacy of space exploration and the challenges that come with tracking and managing space debris. As technology advances, the monitoring of such objects will become increasingly critical to ensure the safety of both space missions and those on the ground.

According to Fox News, the reentry of Kosmos 482 highlights the ongoing need for vigilance in tracking space debris and understanding its potential impacts.

A recent study has linked the supermassive black hole M87 to its vast 3,000-light-year cosmic jet, enhancing our understanding of how black holes launch particles at nearly light speed.

A groundbreaking study has successfully connected the renowned M87 black hole, the first black hole ever imaged, to its powerful cosmic jet. This research reveals how the black hole launches particles at nearly the speed of light.

Using significantly enhanced coverage from the global Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), scientists traced a 3,000-light-year-long cosmic jet streaming from M87 to its likely source point. The findings, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics this week, could provide crucial insights into the origins and mechanics of the vast cosmic jets produced by black holes.

M87 is a supermassive black hole located in the Messier 87 galaxy, approximately 55 million light-years from Earth. It is estimated to be 6.5 billion times more massive than the Sun. The first image of M87 was unveiled to the public in 2019, following data collection by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2017.

Dr. Padi Boyd of NASA emphasized the significance of M87’s activity in a video discussing the black hole’s discovery. “Not only is the black hole supermassive, it’s also active,” she noted. “Just a few percent are active at any given time. Are they turning on and then turning off? That’s an idea… We know there are very high magnetic fields that launch a jet. This image is observational evidence that what we’ve been seeing for a while is actually being launched by a jet connected to that supermassive black hole at the center of M87.”

M87 not only consumes surrounding gas and dust but also emits powerful jets of charged particles from its poles, forming the jet stream. This duality highlights the complex nature of black holes, as they both attract and expel matter.

Saurabh, the team leader at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, described the study as an important step toward bridging theoretical concepts about jet launching with direct observations. “Identifying where the jet may originate and how it connects to the black hole’s shadow adds a key piece to the puzzle and points toward a better understanding of how the central engine operates,” he stated.

The Event Horizon Telescope is a global network of eight radio observatories that work together to detect radio waves from astronomical objects, such as galaxies and black holes. This collaboration allows the EHT to function as an Earth-sized telescope, significantly enhancing its observational capabilities. The term “Event Horizon” refers to the boundary of a black hole beyond which light cannot escape, as defined by the National Science Foundation.

The findings were derived from data collected by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2021. However, the authors of the study acknowledged that while the results are robust under the assumptions and tests performed, definitive confirmation and more precise constraints will require future EHT observations. These future studies will need higher sensitivity, improved intermediate-baseline coverage through additional stations, and an expanded frequency range.

This research not only sheds light on the mechanics of black holes but also opens the door for further exploration into the enigmatic behavior of these cosmic giants. Understanding how black holes launch jets could have profound implications for our knowledge of the universe and the fundamental forces at play.

According to Space.com, the study represents a significant advancement in astrophysics, linking theoretical models with observable phenomena.

The potential discovery of a new dwarf planet, 2017OF201, may provide further evidence for the existence of the elusive theoretical Planet Nine in our solar system.

A team of scientists at the Institute for Advanced Study School of Natural Sciences in Princeton, New Jersey, has announced the potential discovery of a new dwarf planet, designated as 2017OF201. This large trans-Neptune Object (TNO) is located beyond the icy expanse of the Kuiper Belt and may challenge existing beliefs about the structure of our solar system.

TNOs are minor planets that orbit the Sun at distances greater than that of Neptune. While many such objects exist, 2017OF201 stands out due to its significant size and unusual orbit. The discovery was made by researchers Sihao Cheng, Jiaxuan Li, and Eritas Yang, who utilized advanced computational techniques to analyze the object’s unique trajectory.

“The object’s aphelion—the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun—is more than 1,600 times that of Earth’s orbit,” Cheng explained in a news release. “Meanwhile, its perihelion—the closest point to the Sun—is 44.5 times that of Earth’s orbit, which is similar to Pluto’s orbit.” The orbital period of 2017OF201 is estimated to be around 25,000 years, suggesting that it has undergone significant gravitational interactions with larger planets, leading to its current wide orbit.

Cheng further speculated on the object’s migration history, suggesting that it may have initially been ejected into the Oort Cloud, the most distant region of our solar system, before being drawn back into its current orbit. This hypothesis indicates a more complex dynamic in the outer solar system than previously understood.

The implications of this discovery are substantial, particularly concerning the ongoing search for Planet Nine, a theoretical planet proposed to exist in the outer solar system. In January 2016, astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) presented research suggesting the presence of a planet approximately 1.5 times the size of Earth, located far beyond Pluto. However, Planet Nine remains unobserved, with its existence inferred from gravitational patterns affecting smaller objects in the Kuiper Belt.

According to the theory, if Planet Nine exists, it could be similar in size to Neptune and possess a mass up to ten times that of Earth. It is theorized to orbit the Sun at a distance of up to 30 times that of Neptune, taking between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to complete one orbit.

The discovery of 2017OF201 suggests that the region beyond the Kuiper Belt, previously thought to be largely empty, may harbor more celestial bodies than anticipated. Cheng noted that only about 1% of 2017OF201’s orbit is currently visible from Earth, underscoring the vastness of our solar system and the potential for future discoveries.

“Even though advances in telescopes have enabled us to explore distant parts of the universe, there is still a great deal to discover about our own solar system,” Cheng remarked.

As researchers continue to investigate the outer reaches of our solar system, the existence of Planet Nine remains a tantalizing possibility, with the gravitational influences of objects like 2017OF201 potentially providing critical insights into its nature. The ongoing study of such trans-Neptune Objects may ultimately reshape our understanding of the solar system’s architecture.

This research adds a new dimension to the ongoing exploration of our cosmic neighborhood, highlighting the complexity and dynamism of the solar system’s outer regions. The findings were reported in a recent news release, emphasizing the importance of continued observation and study of these distant celestial bodies.

According to NASA, the search for Planet Nine and the study of TNOs like 2017OF201 could help clarify the gravitational patterns observed in the outer solar system, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of our cosmic environment.

The Artemis II crew experienced a historic 40-minute communication blackout as they passed behind the Moon, marking a significant milestone in deep space exploration.

The Artemis II crew officially entered a communications blackout on Monday evening as their spacecraft moved behind the Moon’s far side, setting new distance records in the process. This unprecedented moment began at approximately 6:44 p.m. ET, during which the astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—became the most isolated humans in deep space history.

The blackout occurred as the spacecraft lost line of sight to Earth, with the Moon obstructing satellite communications entirely. Contact is anticipated to resume around 7:25 p.m. ET, coinciding with a moment known as “Earthrise,” when Earth reappears over the Moon’s horizon.

NASA has assured that there are no specific dangers anticipated during this mission, although ground control is prepared for potential contingencies. The astronauts have practiced essential tasks, such as consuming protein shakes and administering medication, while wearing their bulky orange launch and entry suits. This preparation is crucial in case they need to remain in their gear for an extended period.

In addition to the communication blackout, the Artemis II crew will achieve several significant milestones. At approximately 7:05 p.m. ET, the spacecraft is expected to reach its farthest point from Earth, at a distance of 252,760 miles. This surpasses the Apollo 13 record by roughly 4,105 miles, marking a notable achievement in space exploration.

At their closest approach, the Moon will appear about the size of a basketball held at arm’s length, according to NASA. Although ground control and the science evaluation room will not be able to communicate with the astronauts during this blackout period, the crew will continue to execute their lunar targeting plan and conduct scientific observations.

The astronauts are set to track historic Apollo sites, scout potential future landing zones, and capture rare views of nearby planets, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. They will also have the unique opportunity to observe a solar eclipse from the Orion spacecraft’s vantage point.

Earlier in the day, the crew broke a distance record previously held by Apollo 13, which was set in 1970. This achievement underscores the significance of the Artemis II mission as a pivotal step in humanity’s exploration of deep space.

According to NASA, the Artemis II mission is not only a remarkable technical achievement but also a historic moment in the ongoing journey of human exploration beyond Earth.

The Artemis II mission has successfully transitioned to a lunar trajectory, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration with its four-member crew set for a historic journey.

The four-member crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission has successfully transitioned from Earth’s orbit to a lunar trajectory following a flawless translunar injection (TLI) burn. This maneuver, executed late Thursday, officially commits the Orion spacecraft to a high-stakes, eight-day journey that will carry humans to the vicinity of the moon for the first time since 1972. As the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule, Artemis II serves as a pivotal stress test for deep-space life-support systems and navigation. By the end of this mission, the crew is expected to set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, surpassing the benchmark set by the Apollo 13 mission over five decades ago.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s Artemis II mission entered its most ambitious phase on Thursday evening as the Orion spacecraft’s main engine fired for nearly six minutes, accelerating the vehicle to escape velocity and setting a course for the moon. The maneuver, known as the translunar injection (TLI) burn, took place approximately 25 hours after the mission’s historic liftoff from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B.

With the successful completion of the burn, the crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen—is now on a “free-return” trajectory. This orbital path ensures that the moon’s gravity will naturally pull the spacecraft around its far side and sling it back toward Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown, currently scheduled for April 10, 2026.

The Artemis II mission is designed to push the boundaries of human reach. While the Apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s focused on lunar landings, Artemis II is a “shakedown” flight intended to validate the Orion spacecraft’s performance with a human crew. On the sixth day of the mission, the crew is projected to reach a point roughly 4,600 miles beyond the far side of the moon.

At its maximum distance, Orion will be approximately 230,000 miles from Earth. This will eclipse the standing record of 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) from Earth set by the crew of Apollo 13 in 1970, who were forced into a high-altitude lunar loop following an onboard explosion. Unlike the emergency nature of the 1970 record, the Artemis II trajectory is a deliberate test of the Space Launch System’s (SLS) precision and the Orion’s ability to sustain life in the harsh radiation environment of deep space.

“Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the moon,” Jeremy Hansen said in his first address to Mission Control following the TLI burn. Hansen’s inclusion marks the first time a non-American has traveled beyond low-Earth orbit, a nod to the international coalition-building that defines the Artemis program.

The TLI burn utilized an Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engine with a storied pedigree. The engine used for this mission was salvaged and refurbished from the Space Shuttle program, having previously flown on 19 different shuttle missions. This hardware evolution underscores NASA’s strategy of blending legacy technology with modern computing power.

The Orion capsule itself offers a stark contrast to the Apollo-era Command Modules. While the Apollo capsules provided 210 cubic feet of habitable volume for three men, Orion provides 331 cubic feet—a 50% increase—to accommodate its four-member crew. This extra space is critical for the mission’s various objectives, which include testing a $23 million waste management system and exercise equipment designed to prevent bone density loss during longer voyages to Mars.

“With this burn to the moon, we do not leave Earth. We choose it,” Mission Specialist Christina Koch noted before the burn, emphasizing the mission’s role in gathering data to protect the home planet and its future explorers. Koch, who already holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, is now poised to become the first woman to reach the lunar vicinity.

The Artemis program represents a significant shift in U.S. space policy, moving away from the “flags and footprints” approach of the mid-20th century toward a sustainable lunar economy. This mission is the second of several planned phases, following the uncrewed Artemis I in 2022. It sets the stage for Artemis III and IV, which aim to land the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface later this decade.

However, the program faces intense scrutiny regarding its fiscal and temporal milestones. Originally slated for an earlier launch, Artemis II was delayed due to technical refinements and budget reallocations. The SLS rocket, standing 322 feet tall, carries a per-launch price tag estimated at $2.2 billion, part of a broader program that has seen costs climb into the tens of billions.

The geopolitical stakes are equally high. The United States is currently in a de facto space race with China, which has announced plans to land taikonauts on the moon by 2030. The Artemis Accords, a set of non-binding principles for space cooperation, now boast over 40 signatories, positioning Artemis II as a diplomatic tool as much as a scientific one.

As the crew settles into the “coast” phase of the mission, their daily schedule is packed with system checks. They have already addressed minor issues typical of a test flight, including a brief glitch in the communication system and a small leak in the waste management suction line, both of which were resolved by Mission Control in Houston.

Over the next 48 hours, the crew will focus on optical navigation, radiation monitoring, and CO2 scrubbing to ensure the life-support system effectively filters the air for four active adults over a prolonged period.

As Orion moves further away, the Earth will appear as a shrinking marble in the spacecraft’s windows. For Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew, the next eight days are not just a journey through the vacuum of space, but a bridge between the legacy of the 20th century and the aspirations of the 21st, according to NASA.

Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb suggests that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be an alien probe due to its unusual characteristics and trajectory.

A recently discovered interstellar object, designated 3I/ATLAS, has sparked intrigue among astronomers and scientists alike. Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb posits that the object’s peculiar features could indicate it is more than a typical comet, potentially serving as a reconnaissance mission from an extraterrestrial source.

3I/ATLAS was first identified in early July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile. This marks only the third time an interstellar object has been observed entering our solar system, according to NASA.

While NASA has classified 3I/ATLAS as a comet, Dr. Loeb points out that an image of the object reveals an unexpected glow in front of it, rather than the typical tail that comets exhibit. “Usually with comets, you have a tail, a cometary tail, where dust and gas are shining, reflecting sunlight, and that’s the signature of a comet,” he explained. “Here, you see a glow in front of it, not behind it.” This anomaly has raised questions about the object’s true nature.

Measuring approximately 20 kilometers across, 3I/ATLAS is larger than Manhattan and is notably bright given its distance from the sun. However, Dr. Loeb emphasizes that the most striking aspect of the object is its trajectory. He notes that if one were to imagine objects entering the solar system from random directions, only one in 500 would be aligned so precisely with the orbits of the planets.

Furthermore, 3I/ATLAS is expected to pass near Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, which Dr. Loeb argues is highly improbable to occur by chance. “It also comes close to each of them, with a probability of one in 20,000,” he stated.

The object is projected to reach its closest point to the sun, approximately 130 million miles away, on October 30. Dr. Loeb expresses the potential implications of the object’s technological origins, stating, “If it turns out to be technological, it would obviously have a big impact on the future of humanity. We have to decide how to respond to that.”

In a related context, earlier this year, astronomers from the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics mistakenly identified a Tesla Roadster, launched into orbit by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk seven years ago, as an asteroid.

As the scientific community continues to analyze 3I/ATLAS, the implications of its characteristics and trajectory remain a topic of significant interest and debate. The possibility of it being an alien probe invites further investigation and discussion about our understanding of interstellar objects.

A spokesperson for NASA did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the findings and implications surrounding 3I/ATLAS, according to Fox News Digital.

Recent aerial images from India’s Chandrayaan 2 orbiter reveal the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 lunar landing modules more than 50 years after their historic missions.

Photos captured by India’s Space Research Organization (ISRO) moon orbiter, Chandrayaan 2, provide a stunning view of the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 landing sites over half a century after these historic missions. The images, taken in April 2021, were recently shared on the Curiosity page on X, a platform dedicated to space exploration.

“Image of Apollo 11 and 12 taken by India’s Moon orbiter. Disapproving Moon landing deniers,” Curiosity posted, accompanied by the overhead photographs that clearly depict the lunar landing vehicles resting on the moon’s surface.

Apollo 11, which made its historic landing on July 20, 1969, marked a monumental achievement in human space exploration, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first men to walk on the lunar surface. Their fellow astronaut, Michael Collins, remained in lunar orbit during their historic excursion.

The lunar module, known as Eagle, was left in lunar orbit after it successfully rendezvoused with the command module, where Collins was stationed. The Eagle eventually returned to the moon’s surface after completing its mission.

Following Apollo 11, Apollo 12 became NASA’s second crewed mission to land on the moon, occurring on November 19, 1969. During this mission, astronauts Charles “Pete” Conrad and Alan Bean made history as the third and fourth men to walk on the lunar surface.

The Apollo program continued until December 1972, culminating in the final mission when astronaut Eugene Cernan became the last person to walk on the moon.

The Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched on July 22, 2019, precisely 50 years after the Apollo 11 mission, and it took two years for the orbiter to capture these remarkable images of the 1969 lunar landers.

In addition to Chandrayaan-2, India also launched Chandrayaan-3 last year, which successfully landed near the moon’s south pole, marking another significant achievement in lunar exploration.

These recent images serve not only as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Apollo missions but also highlight the ongoing advancements in space exploration technology, as nations around the world continue to explore the mysteries of the moon and beyond.

According to Fox News, the images from Chandrayaan 2 reaffirm the historical significance of the Apollo landings and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about space exploration and its impact on humanity.

Athena lunar lander successfully reached the moon, but mission controllers remain uncertain about its condition and landing site.

Mission controllers have confirmed that the Athena lunar lander successfully touched down on the moon, but the status of the spacecraft remains unclear. The landing occurred earlier on Thursday, yet officials have not been able to ascertain the condition of the lander or the precise location of its touchdown, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Athena, owned by Intuitive Machines, was equipped with an ice drill, a drone, and two rovers. While the lander has reportedly been able to communicate with its controllers, the details of its condition are still being evaluated. Tim Crain, mission director and co-founder of Intuitive Machines, was heard instructing his team to “keep working on the problem,” despite receiving apparent “acknowledgments” from the spacecraft in Texas.

The uncertainty surrounding Athena’s status follows a challenging history for Intuitive Machines. Last year, their Odysseus lander reached the moon but landed sideways, which added pressure to the current mission. Athena’s landing marks a significant milestone, as it is the second lunar craft to land this week, following Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, which successfully touched down on Sunday.

Firefly’s chief engineer, Will Coogan, celebrated the achievement, stating, “You all stuck the landing. We’re on the moon.” The successful landing of Blue Ghost has made Firefly Aerospace the first private company to place a spacecraft on the moon without it crashing or landing in an unstable position.

As the situation develops, NASA and Intuitive Machines concluded their online live stream and announced plans to hold a news conference later on Thursday to provide updates on Athena’s status.

According to the Associated Press, the outcome of this mission is being closely monitored as the space community awaits further information about the lander’s condition and operational capabilities.

A new study connects the M87 black hole to its powerful cosmic jet, revealing how it launches particles at nearly the speed of light.

A recent study has successfully linked the renowned M87 black hole, the first black hole ever captured in an image, to its impressive cosmic jet. This research sheds light on the mechanisms behind the black hole’s ability to launch particles at nearly the speed of light.

Published in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics,” the findings reveal that scientists have traced a 3,000-light-year-long cosmic jet back to its likely source point. This breakthrough was made possible through “significantly enhanced coverage” provided by the global Event Horizon Telescope network.

M87, a supermassive black hole located in the Messier 87 galaxy, is approximately 55 million light-years from Earth and boasts a mass 6.5 billion times that of the sun. The first image of M87 was unveiled to the public in 2019, following data collection by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2017.

Dr. Padi Boyd of NASA highlighted the significance of the discovery, noting that M87 is not only supermassive but also active. “Just a few percent are active at any given time,” she explained in a video about the black hole. “Are they turning on and then turning off? That’s an idea… We know there are very high magnetic fields that launch a jet. This image provides observational evidence that what we’ve been seeing for a while is actually being launched by a jet connected to that supermassive black hole at the center of M87.”

The black hole is known to consume surrounding gas and dust while simultaneously emitting powerful jets of charged particles from its poles, which form the extensive jet stream. This dual behavior has been reported by outlets such as Scientific American and Space.com.

Saurabh, the team leader at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, stated, “This study represents an early step toward connecting theoretical ideas about jet launching with direct observations.” He emphasized the importance of identifying the jet’s origin and its connection to the black hole’s shadow, calling it a crucial piece in understanding how the central engine operates.

The Event Horizon Telescope is a global network of eight radio observatories that work together to detect radio waves emitted by astronomical objects, such as galaxies and black holes. This collaboration effectively creates an Earth-sized telescope capable of capturing detailed images and data.

The term “Event Horizon” refers to the boundary surrounding a black hole beyond which no light can escape, as defined by the National Science Foundation.

The recent findings stem from data collected by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2021. However, the authors of the study caution that while the results are robust under the assumptions and tests performed, definitive confirmation and more precise constraints will necessitate future observations with higher sensitivity. This will require additional stations and an expanded frequency range to improve intermediate-baseline coverage.

As researchers continue to explore the mysteries of black holes, these findings represent a significant advancement in our understanding of how these cosmic giants operate and influence their surroundings, according to Space.com.

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.