Glowing Rocket Stage Dazzles East Coast Skies, Mistaken For UFO

Northern Virginia, USA – A resident captured a “super weird” glowing display in the night sky over a suburban neighborhood, sparking curiosity across the East Coast.

The video shows a bright white core appearing low on the left, swelling with pulsing halos, trailed by silvery-blue spiraling strands that drift smoothly across 20-30 degrees of sky before fading. Trees and rooftops are faintly visible below, highlighting the silent spectacle. The poster wrote: “Saw this super weird thing… central core and strands of light. Was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Observers confirmed similar sightings along the East Coast, including a green meteor nearby.

Experts clarified the phenomenon is not a UFO or a camera glitch. It is the upper stage of the European Space Agency’s Ariane 6 rocket on its maiden flight from French Guiana around 6 PM EST on November 4.

The rocket stage was performing a deorbit fuel dump with a deliberate spin, dispersing propellant into a spiraling vortex. The maneuver produced the striking visual, visible from Washington D.C. to New York City, upstaging the Beaver Moon in a harmless yet spectacular display.

The event highlights how routine space operations can produce breathtaking visual effects, captivating casual observers and social media alike.

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