Did you see it? Swirling lights hanging in the night’s sky on Tuesday. One Caught in Southie reader sent us the following video:
So what was it? According to WCVB’s meteorologist Mike Wankum, the dazzling spiral in the sky was likely caused by the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket from the European Space Agency. The rocket blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana, just after 4 p.m.
So how did it end up lighting up our skies here? Wankum explains: “When rockets travel in the upper atmosphere, they sometimes release excess fuel. That fuel freezes into tiny ice crystals, and that’s what creates those swirling patterns you see.”
Pretty wild, right? Everything has to line up just right — timing, altitude, and weather — to catch a glimpse. But for those lucky enough to look up at the perfect moment, it was a rare sight!
The Ariane 6 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to carry satellites into orbit — this one was sending up the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
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