Then, an observatory telescope captured a whirlpool that formed

Astronomers recently witnessed a remarkable sight in the night sky, a spiral-shaped burst of light that resembled a vortex. Upon further investigation, it was determined that this optical phenomenon was caused by ice crystals from rocket fuel. The fuel was released into the atmosphere following the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from its spaceport. [i]

This particular launch was carrying the Space Force GPS satellite (GPS3SV-06). The ice crystals were formed by the condensation of vaporized fuel, which then refracted the sunlight in such a way that created the spiral-like shape. This optical illusion is an awe-inspiring reminder of the power of space exploration. [i]

Mauna Kea Summit Observatories, situated in Hawaii, captured the mysterious celestial phenomenon on the night of January 18th, 2023. Several experts at the observatory reported seeing a spiral-shaped galaxy moving slowly across the night sky for almost an hour. [ii]

Furthermore, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s (NAOJ) Subaru Telescope also captured more footage of the whirlpool-like formation in the sky. The experts hypothesize this could be an example of a rare astronomical event. One example is forming a supermassive black hole or a possible collision between two galaxies. The research team is currently studying the footage to determine the exact cause of the phenomenon. [ii]

Witnesses from the observatory who observed the luminous spiral while it was forming claim that the brilliant brightening of the sky started developing as a tiny dot. This small dot was barely visible to the naked eye, but with the help of telescopes, the observers could see the bubble growing larger and larger. As time passed, the bump began to resemble a blob. [iii]

This blob became more distinct, and its edges took a curved form. The lump grew in size and intensity, eventually forming a giant spiral that shone brightly in the night sky. The onlookers watched in awe as the spiral began to become more and more defined until it was a clear and stunning sight. [iii]

The spectacle was said to have been ejected into an arc-like feature, which caused the light to become slightly brighter and more visible. Over time, the light began to take on a spiral shape, slowly rotating around its center. [iii]

The experts who studied the event were amazed at the complexity of the spiral, made up of a myriad of colorful shades. As it rotated, the ring began to look like a glowing wheel, displaying a beautiful array of blues, greens, yellows, and reds. [iii]

Observers claimed that the light was so bright that it could be seen for miles, and the spiral slowly grew in size until it eventually disappeared from sight. The mysterious phenomenon sparked much speculation and debate about its origin, but it remains unexplained. [iii]

As the spiral became more pronounced, it gave off a unique and mesmerizing glow, captivating the observers. The ring grew in intensity until it dissipated, leaving an awe-inspiring view behind. [iii]

Experts say that the launch from earlier that day into a medium-Earth orbit is likely responsible for the spectacle seen in the night sky. Astronomers have explained their theory of how the phenomenon was formed by suggesting that it was created by the launch’s exhaust plume reflecting light off the atmosphere. [iv]

They have their own suspicions about how the exhaust plume was formed and what caused it to reflect the light in such a manner. Further research is needed to confirm these theories and to understand the phenomenon in more detail. [iv]

Following deploying a new GPS satellite, the satellite had to be moved to its correct orbit by firing its thrusters. After it had reached its proper orbit, all remaining fuel was ejected from the satellite. [iv]

The ejected fuel froze into a cloud of corkscrew-shaped crystals due to the extreme cold of space. The sunlight illuminated these fuel crystals, giving them a beautiful and unique appearance. Finally, the satellite re-entered the atmosphere, burning up and leaving only the frozen fuel crystals behind. [iv]

The captured video of the light show almost seems unreal. Watch for yourself in the shared video below.

References

[i] Space Weather, ‘Night Spiral’ over HI (Jan 21, 2023)

[ii] Id.

[iii] Id.

[iv] Id.