On the evening of Monday, March 24, residents across the UK found themselves captivated by a mysterious phenomenon in the sky: a swirling glowing orb that appeared to drift and spin against the backdrop of the night. Witnesses from regions including Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Bristol, and Wales reported seeing the unusual light, fuelling speculation and excitement on social media platforms.
Many individuals took to social media to express their astonishment, with posts quickly populating platforms such as X and Facebook. One observer from Ashton-under-Lyne shared, "Anyone else just see this in the sky? It just kept spinning." Similarly, another person in Horwich, Bolton remarked on the beauty of the light, stating, "Anyone else seen this tonight? It was absolutely beautiful flying over Horwich."
Descriptions of the phenomenon varied; residents in Radcliffe documented their experience in a community group, expressing confusion about the glowing object, which they noticed moving across the sky for about two minutes before fading from view. Their post read, "What have we just seen? It was moving and then faded away after about 2 mins, and there were other small things that looked like stars moving around it too."
Across various neighbourhoods, locals sought answers. In Denton, a participant on a community forum queried, "Anyone seen the strange moving objects in the sky? Eight PM. One bright thing with white misty rings around it. Moving slow for ages then completely disappeared." Another observer from Stalybridge noted, "I thought it was a plane, but it appeared too slow. Not as noisy and seemed to light up the sky."
The origins of this spectacle appear to be linked to a recent SpaceX event. The Falcon 9 rocket, operated by SpaceX, was launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station shortly after 1:45 PM (local time) that day on a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The visible phenomenon is likely attributed to excess fuel released by the rocket, which is known to create spiral patterns as the fuel freezes in the atmosphere and reflects sunlight, casting an ethereal glow in the sky.
Similar occurrences have been documented in the past. Earlier in 2023, a similar spiral was observed above parts of the USA, leading to widespread speculation that it was the result of a SpaceX launch. Astronomers have pointed out that such spirals typically form when rockets vent excess fuel, which freezes at high altitudes and creates a visual display as sunlight bounces off the ice crystals.
Witnesses across the UK, in addition to experiencing the unusual sight, expressed a blend of curiosity and confusion regarding the object. An astrophotographer noted on X, "This is likely to be excess fuel that had been released from a SpaceX rocket, it has been witnessed before over different locations."
While the phenomenon may have prompted thoughts of unidentified flying objects or extraterrestrial activity among some observers, the prevailing explanation ties the sightings directly to technological advancements in space travel, highlighting the remarkable blends of nature and technology that continue to astonish the public. As reports from regions like Bulwick, Northamptonshire, and various locations in Wales continued to surface, the fascination with this celestial occurrence underscores the ongoing intersection of human curiosity and modern aerospace innovations.
Source: Noah Wire Services