On Monday evening, March 24, a striking glowing spiral illuminated the skies above Leicestershire and other regions in the UK, provoking curiosity and speculation among observers. The phenomenon, initially mistaken for an aviation incident or some otherworldly occurrence, is believed to have stemmed from a SpaceX rocket launch that took place approximately 4,000 miles away at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The Falcon 9 rocket was launched shortly before 1.50pm local time (5.50pm GMT) as part of a classified mission for the US government's National Reconnaissance Office. This event led to the formation of a frozen exhaust plume, which scientists have explained as the cause of the unusual celestial display. The Met Office remarked on social media platform X that “the rocket's frozen exhaust plume appears to be spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting the sunlight, causing it to appear as a spiral in the sky.”
Witnesses across the nation shared their experiences on social media platforms, posting videos and images that revealed the spiral's radiant features. Among those who viewed the spectacle was Mark Remedios, 32, from Hamilton, who expressed his astonishment at the sight, stating that it was “neither a conventional aircraft nor drone.” He recounted his observation just before 8pm, noting, “It didn't look like a drone or a plane... It's not the first time seeing something like that but I've never had a chance to record it before."
In a similar vein, a resident from Bristol, who preferred to remain anonymous, described his initial confusion, believing the spiral to be a plane. “It looked just like a plane with its headlight on,” he told the PA news agency. He continued his account, explaining how the object transformed before his eyes: “I watched this fuzzy light for what felt like about a minute when all of a sudden it started shooting out these spiral arms and spinning. I realised straight away it was SpaceX because I’ve seen it so much on YouTube, but I can totally see how others would have been weirded out by it – it really did look alien.”
The spiral display, which lasted for several minutes, was visible across much of Europe, and stirred a heightened interest in astrophysical phenomena. According to Lord Dover, a senior technical officer at the University of Hertfordshire’s Bayfordbury Observatory, the phenomenon lasts approximately 10 minutes from the initial appearance around 7.52pm before it gradually disappears over the horizon. He explained that the visible spiral formed when the rocket disposed of fuel in the upper atmosphere while returning to Earth, resulting in an expanding, swirling cloud that developed into the spiral shape observed across the Atlantic. "These sightings are becoming common in some parts of the world," he noted, "but it’s still unusual for rocket launches to be visible like this from the UK."
As reports of the glowing spiral circulated, numerous onlookers were left intrigued by the unexpected light show, capturing the moment for posterity while fostering conversation regarding the intersection of space exploration and everyday life.
Source: Noah Wire Services