What the heck was that looming in the sky on Tuesday night? We know.
Did you see it? Swirling lights hanging in the night’s sky on Tuesday. One Caught in Southie reader sent us the following video:
So what was it? According to WCVB’s meteorologist Mike Wankum, the dazzling spiral in the sky was likely caused by the launch of the Ariane 6 rocket from the European Space Agency. The rocket blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana, just after 4 p.m.
So how did it end up lighting up our skies here? Wankum explains: “When rockets travel in the upper atmosphere, they sometimes release excess fuel. That fuel freezes into tiny ice crystals, and that’s what creates those swirling patterns you see.”
Pretty wild, right? Everything has to line up just right — timing, altitude, and weather — to catch a glimpse. But for those lucky enough to look up at the perfect moment, it was a rare sight!
The Ariane 6 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to carry satellites into orbit — this one was sending up the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite.
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
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