Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 10 hours ago

Spiral in the sky likely to be from SpaceX launch

On March 24, a blue and white spiral was observed in the skies above Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and other parts of the UK around 8 pm GMT.
The unusual phenomenon was caused by a fuel dump from the second stage deorbit burn of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the US at 5.48 pm GMT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for the National Reconnaissance Office mission NROL-69.
The SpaceX craft was performing maneuvers, and its exhaust jets created a visible swirl as the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket released unnecessary fuel, which froze into tiny crystals reflecting sunlight and forming a spiral shape as the rocket spun.
Professor Brian Cox stated on X that the spiral shape was associated with the SpaceX launch, and VirtualAstro explained on X that SpaceX created the spiral over Worcester, while others, including astrophotographer Will Cheung, confirmed it was likely excess fuel.
The spectacle, captured by Worcester News Camera Club members like Tara Jayne and Lesley Wood, and witnessed by people across the UK, flooded social media with images of the "SpaceX spirals," dispelling initial speculation of UFOs.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

183 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

St Helens Star

Center

Mystery spiral lights seen in sky over St Helens after SpaceX rocket launch

A MYSTERY spiral of light that could be seen in the sky on Monday night certainly got tongues wagging.

16 hours ago·St Helens, United Kingdom

Read Full Article

merkur.de

Center

Shining spiral turns in the sky – phenomenon astonishes people all over Germany

It looked a little spooky when a spiral formed in the sky on Monday evening (24 March), but there is an explanation for the phenomenon.

19 hours ago

Read Full Article

overpassesforamerica.com

Right

SpaceX Rocket Launch Creates Glowing Spiral in the Night Sky for Europe - Overpasses For America

A spiral of light illuminating the night sky captivated observers in Britain and much of Europe on Monday. Its cause: a SpaceX rocket, experts said, after the glowing spectacle ignited widespread curiosity and speculation about its origin. The ethereal display, seen from England to Eastern Europe, resembled a glowing celestial whirlpool in images posted on social media, where users reported seeing it for several minutes before it faded. The Met …

20 hours ago

Read Full Article

Bristol Post

Reposted by

Cornwall Live

Center

Glowing spiral in UK skies explained as Met Office inundated

The strange phenomena could be seen across Europe

21 hours ago·Bristol, United Kingdom

Read Full Article

La Tercera

Lean Right

They capture spectacular spiral of light that illuminated the sky in Europe: What was it?

Several users shared records across social networks of the silhouette formed in the sky looking for an explanation, and the answer was soon to arrive.It was the launch of a Space X rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States.

21 hours ago·Chile

Read Full Article

rp-online.de

Lean Right

"We've been overrun by news: Spiral vortex in the sky over Germany – that's the reason

Ufos, reflections, hallucinations? That's probably what many people were wondering, who saw a spiral-shaped light phenomenon about Germany on Monday evening. The Space Command of the German Armed Forces in NRW explains what it is all about.

21 hours ago

Read Full Article

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/year