A SpaceX rocket launch on Monday left a glowing spiral in its wake, visible from England to Eastern Europe. The spectacle, which resembled a celestial whirlpool, captivated observers for several minutes before fading.
Experts have confirmed that the light was caused by frozen fuel released from the rocket’s upper stage, which caught sunlight at high altitude and produced the luminous display. This phenomenon is not uncommon, as similar spirals have appeared in the sky before, often in connection with SpaceX missions.
The Met Office reported receiving many sightings of the illuminated swirl in the sky, attributing it to the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket earlier that day. Physicist Prof. Brian Cox also confirmed the source of the light on social media.
The rocket, carrying a classified US government payload, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and was visible across much of Europe. Sky watchers were left stunned by the sight, with one observer describing it as “like some kind of wormhole from Star Trek.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/science/sky-spiral-spacex-rocket-launch-musk.html