A mystery object appeared in the sky over Connecticut on Tuesday night, leaving viewers stunned with its unique spiral pattern. The glowing phenomenon was later identified as a result of a European rocket launch thousands of miles away.
The Ariane 6 rocket launched from French Guiana at 8:30 p.m. EDT, carrying the Metop-SGA1 weather satellite. As the upper stage booster passed high above the skies of Connecticut, it vented leftover fuel into the cold upper atmosphere, causing it to crystallize and display a beautiful spiral pattern.
Astronomers describe this phenomenon as a “twilight phenomenon” or “space jellyfish,” which is a rare mix of timing, altitude, and lighting that can create breathtaking displays. Dr. Jay White, Director of Science at Talcott Mountain Science Center, explained that the process involves the fuel being turned into small crystals, which are then illuminated by sunlight at high altitudes.
The near-perfect spiral was visible for several minutes from Connecticut before dissipating. With more launches than ever before, experts predict that we may see another surprise show in the years ahead. Viewers can share their photos of the mystery object with Channel 3 through social media or upload them to the WFSB News App.
Source: https://www.wfsb.com/2025/08/13/mystery-object-appears-sky-over-connecticut