A brief spiral of light was seen over parts of New England and is most likely linked to the Ariane 6 launch from Kourou at 4:02 p.m. Experts say the rocket’s upper stage vented excess fuel, which froze into reflective ice crystals and briefly created the spiral pattern. The Ariane 6 mission was carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite, which will image Earth both day and night. Officials describe the phenomenon as a harmless byproduct of routine rocket operations.
Spiral of Light Over New England Likely Caused by Ariane 6 Rocket Fuel Venting
A brief spiral of light was seen over parts of New England and is most likely linked to the Ariane 6 launch from Kourou at 4:02 p.m. Experts say the rocket’s upper stage vented excess fuel, which froze into reflective ice crystals and briefly created the spiral pattern. The Ariane 6 mission was carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite, which will image Earth both day and night. Officials describe the phenomenon as a harmless byproduct of routine rocket operations.
02:28, 06.11.2025Science
Bright spiral spotted across New England likely tied to rocket launch
A brief, spiral-shaped light display was filmed in the night sky over parts of New England on Tuesday and sparked widespread online curiosity. Observers reported the phenomenon across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island; it appeared for only a short time before fading.
What experts say
Investigators linked the sighting to the Ariane 6 launch from Kourou, French Guiana, which occurred at 4:02 p.m. Tuesday. Emily Pike of WMTW-TV Maine's Total Weather explained that the rocket, which was carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite, apparently vented excess fuel from its upper stage. In the cold of space that fuel froze into tiny, reflective ice crystals that briefly formed a spiral-shaped pattern of light before dispersing.
How the effect forms: Fuel venting can create expanding spirals as released propellant is pushed out while the rocket stage rotates or changes orientation. Sunlight reflecting off frozen particles can make the pattern visible from the ground.
About Sentinel-1D
The Sentinel-1D satellite is part of an Earth-observation program designed to capture high-resolution images of the planet during both day and night, supporting environmental monitoring, disaster response and other applications.
Officials say the display was a harmless byproduct of standard rocket operations and not a threat. If you see unusual sky phenomena, experts recommend photographing or recording them and reporting sightings to local news outlets or relevant authorities to help investigators.