Unexplained spirals intrude on Perseid meteor showers across multiple U.S. states, leaving scientists puzzled about the origin of the anomaly.
The skies over several U.S. states were set ablaze with a mesmerising spectacle on August 12, 2022, during the Perseid meteor shower. A giant spiral of ghostly white light captivated onlookers, leaving many wondering about its origin.
The source of the luminous spiral was traced back to rocket fuel dumped by a spacecraft preparing to reenter Earth's atmosphere. This fuel froze into tiny crystals that reflected sunlight, creating the spellbinding spiral pattern. The spinning motion of the rocket during fuel release caused the crystals to form a whirlpool-like cloud, visible from the ground.
Initially, there was confusion about which rocket triggered the spiral, with some reports suggesting the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket was responsible. However, it was later revealed that one of the European Space Agency's Ariane 6 rockets had been launched only 19 minutes earlier.
While the exact rocket responsible for the 2022 spiral is yet to be confirmed, similar phenomena have often been linked to SpaceX rockets, which have created several awe-inspiring "space spirals" observable from Earth.
These glowing structures in the sky have become more common in recent years due to the sharp rise in the number of rocket launches, particularly from private companies like SpaceX. As a result, these luminous displays have come to be known as "SpaceX spirals."
The crystals that formed the spiral dissipated and became invisible to the naked eye after around 10 minutes. Nevertheless, the event left a lasting impression, with the spiral being seen in at least 10 states, including Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, and Nebraska.
Recent examples of SpaceX spirals include a gigantic whirlpool that shone above the U.K. and parts of Europe in March, a striking blue structure that glowed alongside auroras in April 2023, and a super-rare "horned" spiral that emerged over Europe in May 2024.
Despite the growing occurrence of these phenomena, the exact scientific mechanisms behind them are still not fully understood. However, astronomers like Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, are actively studying these events to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos.
[1] McDowell, J. (2022). Twitter post. [Link to tweet] [4] McDowell, J. (2022). Twitter post. [Link to tweet]
The spectacular spiral was traced back to rocket fuel dumped by a spacecraft, shedding light on the intersection of science (especially environmental science and space-and-astronomy) and technology. The event, termed a "SpaceX spiral," is becoming more frequent due to increased rocket launches, particularly in the realm of private space technology.
As space launches continue to rise, astronomers are employed in investigating the scientific processes behind these mystifying displays, aiming to unlock the secrets of the cosmos (using technology for data collection and analysis in environmental science).
