A mysterious, elongated blue-tinged light streak dazzled skywatchers in Hungary and other parts of Central Europe on Monday night. While some initially speculated it was a meteor, the truth turned out to be more technological than cosmic. The striking sky event was caused by a returning stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after a recent Starlink satellite launch.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from the United States on 24 March, carrying a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. As part of the mission, the first stage of the rocket detached and began its controlled descent back to Earth. During re-entry, the ignition of its engines and the resulting condensation trails formed mesmerizing spiral-like light patterns in the sky.
Due to clear weather conditions, the phenomenon was visible across multiple Central European countries, including Hungary. Many people captured the event in photos and videos, which quickly spread across social media. The Hungarian Astronomical Association later confirmed that it was not a natural celestial occurrence but rather a rocket stage making a planned return.
With SpaceX launching multiple rockets every week, such spectacular re-entries are becoming more common. Observers in the right place at the right time may witness more of these breathtaking sky events in the future.
Meanwhile, SpaceX also completed another successful mission over the weekend. The company safely brought home two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who had been stranded on the International Space Station for nine months due to Boeing’s technical issues. The astronauts, along with two crew members, landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida, marking another milestone in SpaceX’s spaceflight operations.
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