Mysterious Spiral Lights Spotted Over Sefton – Here’s What They Really Are

2 minutes ago2 min read

Many residents across Sefton and the UK were left amazed tonight after spotting strange, glowing spiral lights in the sky between 7pm and 9pm. Social media has since been flooded with photos and videos of the stunning sight, which had people wondering: what on earth was that?

Well, there’s a fascinating – and totally safe – explanation.

These mysterious lights are known as “SpaceX spirals”, and they’re caused by rocket launches high above the Earth’s surface. Tonight’s phenomenon was linked to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launched around two hours earlier as part of the Transporter-10 mission, carrying 53 small satellites into orbit.

What Causes the Spiral?

• As the rocket’s second stage finishes its job and prepares to return to Earth, it releases leftover fuel to safely burn up in the atmosphere.

• This fuel – usually liquid oxygen – freezes in the cold upper atmosphere, forming ice crystals.

• As the rocket spins, the exhaust creates a spiral pattern, which is then lit up by sunlight high above the Earth, even though it’s dark where we are.

• The result? A glowing spiral light show visible from the ground – and completely harmless.

Not a One-Time Event

These spirals have been seen in other parts of the world before – including New Zealand, Hawaii, and Africa – often shortly after a SpaceX launch. They’re not common, but they’re also not dangerous. It’s just physics and sunlight combining to give us a stunning display in the night sky.

According to experts, the bright appearance tonight may have also been boosted by increased solar activity, which can enhance how visible these types of atmospheric reactions become.

A Magical But Scientific Moment

Craig Underwood, an emeritus professor of spacecraft engineering, explained that the exhaust gases interact with high-energy particles in the Earth’s ionosphere, causing the glow. The rocket’s spin creates the spiral effect, and different gases can produce a variety of colours – including the white, red, pink, and green we often associate with auroras.

So if you saw something strange in the sky tonight – don’t worry! You were just witnessing a rare and beautiful by-product of modern space travel.

Let us know if you spotted it and feel free to share your photos in the comments!