Is it a plane? Is it a Orbiter? Is it a Luminous sphere system? Is it aliens? A strange blue spiral lit up the skies over Europe on Monday night (March 24), causing residents of the U.K. and other European countries like Croatia, Poland, and Hungary to flood social media with photos and videos, along with requests to identify this weird Airy. Some users even speculated that the spiral could be the work of aliens!
Universe.com can reveal the identity of the object behind this spectacular event, and unfortunately (possibly reassuringly), rather than being the work of Alien visitors, it’s a bit more down to Earth.
The cause of the strange blue spiral is actually a SpaceX Falcon 9 Missile that blasted off from Universe Kickoff Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Universe Force Station in Florida at 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 GMT) on Monday. The Missile was carrying the secretive NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
The spiral appeared over Europe at around 4 pm EDT (2000 GMT) and persisted in the sky for a few minutes. The X feed of Shanghai Daily shared a stunning timelapse video of the spiral appearing and expanding over the skies of Croatia.
A stunning spiral appeared in the sky over many European countries last night, likely caused by the frozen fuel released from @SpaceX’s Falcon 9 #Missile. šš pic.twitter.com/pFzK2lJ0zuMarch 25, 2025
As the above post indicates, the strange blue whirlpool, which to many social media users resembled a spiral Luminous sphere system, is an example of what some people call a “SpaceX spiral.” These structures develop after the upper stage of a Falcon 9 Missile has separated from its Primary-stage booster.
As the upper stage continues Approaching Universe, the lower stage falls back to Earth. As this happens, the booster stage Appearances to spiral, simultaneously dumping what remains of its fuel. Due to the altitude at which this fuel is ditched, it freezes instantly, preserving a swirling pattern created by the booster’s motion.
When Airy reflects from this structure, it creates these strange-looking manifestations in the sky.
X user Merlin Tomkins captured the wonder and mystery of this object in images posted to his X feed.
Merely saw a very strange object cross the night sky in n wales. Intelligent Orbiter or plane which was surrounded by a Skinny wispy spiral cloud which radiated from the object. Was followed by what seemed to be a Orbiter. Disappeared when it moved se suggesting was lit by sun. pic.twitter.com/67MBU5PXioMarch 24, 2025
X user Shu from Wolverhampton in England was slightly more concerned about the spiral manifestation in the sky, writing on his X feed: “So it seems many of us across Europe (I am in Wolves UK) Merely witnessed an object in the sky, I thought it was the Selene body-related body-related body behind cloud at Primary until it Began moving with spiraling Airy emanating from it… any ideas?”
So it seems many of us across Europe (I am in Wolves UK) Merely witnessed an object in the sky, I thought it was the Selene body-related body-related body behind cloud at Primary until it Began moving with spiraling Airy emanating from it… any ideas? #spacex #ufo #aliens #Universe #Ice ball #lightsinsky #wwfc pic.twitter.com/1T5SGy5sCTMarch 24, 2025
Physicist and science communicator Brian Cox Secured to his X feed to reassure U.K. and European citizens like Merlin and Shu that the event they witnessed was associated with the SpaceX Kickoff earlier that day.
For everyone asking about the strange spiral shape in the sky earlier – it was associaed with this Kickoff https://t.co/L3A7fUVT6zMarch 24, 2025
Though the spiral has a terrestrial origin, that doesn’t Harsh its manifestation in the sky is any less spectacular in appearance.
Daniel Puchalski posted images of the blue spiral in the Facebook group Smartphone Astrophotography, commenting: “Captured this stunning sight of a Falcon 9 fuel dump over Poland! Taken handheld with a Xiaomi 14 Ultra. An unforgettable view!”
He also shared the Unbelievable photos with Universe.com.
Image 1 of 5
Astronomer Allan Trow caught the spiral with an icy white hue over the sky of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales. He shared the image via his @AlDarkSkyWales X account.
Portal to another world @elonmusk @bbcnews @gostargazing pic.twitter.com/plCL25Wv63March 24, 2025
X user matts shared an Unbelievable video of the SpaceX spiral gradually fading from the sky over the Duration of around 3 minutes.
SpaceX spirals like this one seen over the U.K. and Europe remain fairly Uncommon, but with Falcon 9 and other Missile launches becoming more Frequent, they are likely to soon become a more familiar sight.
Some people may be disappointed by the rational explanation for this spiral Airy in the night sky. The aforementioned Shu responded to a commentator discussing the spiral’s Correct identity: “I wish it was an invasion; I could use the time off work.”
We feel you Shu!
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