A stunning blue light, likely caused by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, illuminated the night sky over Europe on Monday, captivating viewers and sparking widespread discussion on social media.
A mesmerizing blue light, resembling a cosmic whirlpool, brightened the night skies over Europe on Monday. This spectacular phenomenon was likely the result of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, according to experts.
Time-lapse footage captured from Croatia around 4 p.m. EST (9 p.m. local time) showcased the glowing spiral as it spun across the sky. Many social media users compared the sight to a spiral galaxy, with the full video lasting approximately six minutes at normal speed.
The U.K.’s Met Office reported receiving numerous accounts of an “illuminated swirl in the sky.” They attributed the phenomenon to the SpaceX rocket that had launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at approximately 1:50 p.m. EST as part of the classified NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
“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 sunlight, causing it to appear as a spiral in the sky.”
This glowing light is an example of what some refer 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 ascent into space, the lower stage descends, spiraling back to Earth while releasing any remaining fuel.
The fuel, upon reaching high altitudes, freezes almost instantly. Sunlight reflects off the frozen exhaust, resulting in the striking glow observed in the sky.
Fox News Digital reached out to SpaceX for comment but did not receive an immediate response. This cosmic display occurred just days after a SpaceX team collaborated with NASA to successfully return two stranded astronauts to Earth.
According to Space.com, the captivating blue spiral is a reminder of the complexities and wonders of space travel, as well as the innovative technology employed by SpaceX in its missions.