PARIS: An awe-inspiring blue and white spiral captured the attention of skywatchers across Europe recently, leaving many in wonderment. Contrary to what some might have speculated, this striking display was linked to a SpaceX rocket launch, as confirmed by weather experts and scientific analysts.

On the evening of March 24, the UK's Met Office reported an influx of sightings of an "illuminated swirl" that drifted through the skies, likely originating from a rocket launch out of Cape Canaveral in Florida.

In a reassuring message, Meteo France came to the public's aid, emphasizing, "Don't panic! This is not a UFO but rather the degassing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket." Social media was abuzz with images of the fantastical swirl, shared by residents in countries including Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Croatia.

According to planetary scientist James O'Donoghue from the University of Reading in the UK, the phenomenon was likely visible across a vast region of Europe, provided that spectators were not thwarted by cloud cover. "The spiral emerged as the rocket's first-stage booster detached during its flight, allowing the upper stage to take over," he elaborated.

As the booster plummeted back to Earth, it vented residual fuel, which crystallized upon freezing, creating a spectacle that shimmered in the sunlight. "The interplay of the tumbling rocket's spinning motion and fuel release gave rise to this exquisite spiral pattern," O'Donoghue added.

**Mystery Payload Transported**

The breathtaking whirl was attributed to SpaceX's NROL-69 mission, which carried a classified payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office—an agency responsible for managing U.S. military spy satellites. Following its successful launch, the Falcon 9 rocket booster returned safely to its designated landing zone.

Interestingly, a similar spiral formation was previously documented over New Zealand in 2022, also linked to a Falcon 9 launch, highlighting a recurring spectacle from SpaceX's operations.

O'Donoghue reassured the public that the gas venting responsible for such swirling formations is not hazardous. He noted that while this phenomenon can occur with various rockets, the frequency of Falcon 9 launches increases occurrences of such visual displays.

The timing of this particular launch coincided with the twilight hours in Europe, providing a unique opportunity for observers to witness the captivating spiral before it dissipated. Other factors, including seasonal conditions and cloud coverage, also play a role in visibility for onlookers.

Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to push boundaries in the aerospace sector with its "fail fast, learn fast" ethic, which has established the company as a leading provider of launch services globally. In a recent notable event, the company's massive Starship rocket experienced an explosion during a test flight, showering debris over the Bahamas, reminding us of the challenges and unpredictability in space exploration.

As more missions are planned, skywatchers eagerly await the next chance to witness similar breathtaking displays lighting up the heavens above!