Mysterious Blue Spiral Lights Up European Skies as SpaceX Rocket Creates Stunning Cosmic Display
On March 24, 2025, a breathtaking celestial spectacle left skywatchers across Europe in awe when a giant, glowing blue spiral appeared in the night sky, and the ethereal phenomenon, which resembled a portal to another dimension, was later confirmed to be the result of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.
The Viral Phenomenon
Reports and social media posts flooded in from the UK, France, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Croatia, as stunned witnesses shared images of the swirling blue and white vortex while many initially speculated about UFOs, auroras, or even a supernatural event, but scientists quickly debunked the mystery.
The spiral was caused by excess fuel venting from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which had launched earlier from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the NROL-69 mission, a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the rocket’s leftover fuel created an unintended light show.
How Did the Spiral Form?
When the first-stage booster separated and began its descent, it spun rapidly while releasing unused fuel and since the freezing conditions in the upper atmosphere turned the fuel into ice crystals, they then reflected sunlight while creating the dazzling spiral effect.
Astrophysicist Eric Lagadec shared a video of the event on social media and joked: “Elon Musk is now drawing in the sky!” noting that similar spirals have been spotted before—most notably over New Zealand in 2022—which were also caused by SpaceX rockets.
Past Similar Events: SpaceX Spirals Around the World
This is not the first time that SpaceX rockets paint the sky with colorful spirals as here are some notable past events that have happened in recent years around the world, which have ignited social networks:
1. New Zealand (2022)
A massive blue spiral appeared over the South Island which was caused by a Falcon 9 rocket dumping fuel. This phenomenon happened during a Starlink mission and eyewitnesses described it as “serenely” moving across the night sky.
2. Alaska & Hawaii (2021-2023)
Many people reported multiple sightings of blue and green swirls following the SpaceX launch and often confused them for auroras or comets known to appear in those areas.
3. Norway (2009) – not SpaceX, but Similar
A big blue spiral lit up Arctic skies which initially sparked UFO (Unidentified Flying Objects) theories but it was later revealed to be a failed Russian missile test (Bulava ICBM).
4. China’s Long March 2C (2021)
A spiral phenomenon over East Asia was linked to a Chinese rocket venting fuel, and it resembled the SpaceX spirals.
Public Reactions: From UFO Panic to Awe
Many onlookers described it as “the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen”, whereas others jokingly wondered if aliens were making a grand entrance, while the UK’s Met Office confirmed it was not a weather-related event but a rocket exhaust trail, while Meteo France reassured the public that the phenomenon was harmless.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
SpaceX’s reusable rockets often vent fuel after separation and when conditions are right—with clear skies and twilight lighting—these spirals become visible from hundreds of miles away. So as private spaceflight increases such stunning displays may become more common.
Final Thoughts
“This is likely to be caused by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched earlier today,” the Met Office in the U.K. wrote on X. While the spiral wasn’t extraterrestrial, it was a reminder of how space technology can create unexpected beauty and for a few magical minutes, Europe gazed up at a swirling cosmic masterpiece—courtesy of SpaceX.
