Blue spiral over Europe: science vs. UFOs

On Monday evening, around 9pm, a mysterious glowing spiral appeared in the sky over several European countries - including Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. Social media exploded with discussion in the first few minutes, with users posting photos and videos exclaiming "OVNI!" - that is, "UFOs." And although the public is already used to Starlink satellite "trains" leaving light trails in the night sky, this time the spiral looked quite different - mesmerising and strange.

But it turned out to be more prosaic - though no less impressive.

As noted by astronomers and experts, this phenomenon is not the first time observed in different parts of the world. Its cause almost always became a rocket Falcon 9, created by SpaceX company Elon Musk (Elon Musk). In the scientific community, this effect has already received an unofficial name - "SpaceX spiral".

This time the Falcon 9 launch took place on Monday in California. According to experts, the spiral could have appeared as a result of rocket degassing or stage desorption. At the moment of leaving orbit or fuel dumping in the upper atmosphere, water vapour freezes, forming tiny crystals. It is on them that sunlight is reflected, creating a mesmerising spiral glow in the sky.

Paradoxically, one of the most beautiful astronomical spectacles of recent weeks may have been caused by... a technical procedure. In an era when space is increasingly becoming the scene of commercial launches, such optical phenomena are a reminder: even the "side effects" of rocket engineering can turn into mystical celestial spectacles.