The unexpected celestial display created a buzz among local stargazers who had ventured out hoping to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower. Instead, their attention turned skyward to a silent, shimmering spiral that held its shape for several moments before fading away.
Astronomers and space-watchers have connected the phenomenon to a recent Ariane 6 rocket launch from French Guiana. According to space-tracking group Xplora Space, confirmed by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the spiral was created by the rocket's second-stage de-orbit maneuver: as the rocket spun and vented fuel at high altitude, sunlight reflected off the residual plume in Earth's horizon, producing the luminous spiral visible from Pennsylvania and other regions.
This kind of spectacle isn't unheard of—a swirling spiral light is reminiscent of earlier sightings where Falcon 9 launches by SpaceX left frozen exhaust plumes spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting sunlight back to observers below.
Astronomers and space-watchers have connected the phenomenon to a recent Ariane 6 rocket launch from French Guiana. According to space-tracking group Xplora Space, confirmed by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the spiral was created by the rocket's second-stage de-orbit maneuver: as the rocket spun and vented fuel at high altitude, sunlight reflected off the residual plume in Earth's horizon, producing the luminous spiral visible from Pennsylvania and other regions.
This kind of spectacle isn't unheard of—a swirling spiral light is reminiscent of earlier sightings where Falcon 9 launches by SpaceX left frozen exhaust plumes spinning in the atmosphere and reflecting sunlight back to observers below.
This phenomenon typically occurs when:
- A rocket stage vents propellant while spinning,
- High-altitude sunlight (not visible from the ground) illuminates the plume,
- The geometry between the venting plume, the high atmosphere, and the observer creates a spiral shape.