The unusual S-shaped glow over New York City and Long Island was the visible trail of an Ariane 6 rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana. Observers saw the rocket during second-stage burnout, when released propellant froze into ice crystals and produced a spiral-like glow visible from the ground. The payload, Sentinel-1D, will support disaster response, climate research and maritime weather monitoring.
Mystery S-Shaped Light Over NYC Explained — Ariane 6 Rocket Left Icy Trail Across the Northeast
The unusual S-shaped glow over New York City and Long Island was the visible trail of an Ariane 6 rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana. Observers saw the rocket during second-stage burnout, when released propellant froze into ice crystals and produced a spiral-like glow visible from the ground. The payload, Sentinel-1D, will support disaster response, climate research and maritime weather monitoring.
19:18, 05.11.2025Science
What viewers saw
A strangely beautiful, S-shaped ribbon of light drifting over New York City and Long Island was the visible remnant of a distant rocket launch, officials say. The glow startled and fascinated many residents, with videos showing a hazy, spiral-shaped white trail moving across the night sky above Manhattan and into Long Island suburbs.
Where it came from
The European Space Agency launched a weather-observing satellite aboard the Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket from the agency’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, just after 6 p.m. local time. Observers in the Northeast saw the rocket as it passed overhead during the second-stage burnout while carrying the Sentinel-1D satellite (about 196 feet tall with its rocket stage).
Why it looked so strange
Upper-atmosphere exhaust: During second-stage burnout, rockets often vent or release small amounts of leftover propellant. In the thin, cold air high above Earth, that vapor can freeze into tiny ice crystals. When sunlight catches those crystals at the right angle, the frozen plume can appear as a glowing ribbon, spiral, or S-shaped streak to observers on the ground.
As Storm Team 5 meteorologist Mike Wankum explained, “Everything has to be just right to see it,” meaning the rocket’s altitude, the sun’s position and clear skies all combined to create the eerie display.
Where it was visible
Social media posts and eyewitness reports indicated the phenomenon was visible not only over New York City and Long Island but also across parts of Philadelphia, Massachusetts, Virginia and Cape Cod.
Why this launch matters
Sentinel-1D is the fourth satellite in its series launched by the European Space Agency to support disaster response, climate research and government users. The ESA says data from the satellite will also assist maritime authorities that rely on frequent, critical weather and ocean condition updates.
In short: a routine rocket event high above the atmosphere, illuminated under the right conditions, produced a spectacular but harmless light show visible across a large swath of the northeastern United States.