Ghostly Spiral Photobombs the Perseids Across 10+ States
Ghostly Spiral Photobombs the Perseids Across 10+ States — Likely a Rocket Fuel Dump
Stargazers watching the Perseid meteor shower on August 12–13, 2025 caught something unexpected: a slowly turning, ghostly white spiral that lingered for minutes before fading. The best explanation so far? A rocket upper-stage fuel dump catching sunlight high above the dark United States.
Initial reports came in from the Northeast and Midwest around 10:30–10:45 p.m. local time, with photos and videos posted from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and even parts of Ontario and Québec. The spiral’s slow rotation and steady drift led observers to suspect a high-altitude phenomenon rather than a meteor fireball.
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What caused the spiral?
Space-weather and astronomy outlets quickly converged on a familiar explanation: when a rocket’s upper stage vents (or “dumps”) leftover cryogenic propellant, it can freeze into reflective crystals that spread into a sunlit plume. If the stage is rotating, the plume can appear as a perfect spiral against the night sky. This has been documented after various launches in recent years.
On this particular night, two big launches occurred close together: United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur from Florida and Europe’s Ariane 6 from French Guiana. Early chatter fingered Vulcan; subsequent tracking and expert commentary suggested the timing and geometry match the Ariane 6 MetOp-SGA1 mission better—specifically the upper stage’s post-deployment maneuver and propellant vent.
Why you could see it after dark
Even though it was night at ground level, the upper stage and its exhaust cloud were likely high enough to remain in direct sunlight. That geometry creates a bright, glowing patch or spiral for observers below, sometimes lasting several minutes. The effect is most dramatic during twilight or when the plume is far to the west or south but still sunlit.
Perseids + Spiral = Double Show
The timing coincided with the Perseid meteor shower peak, so thousands of skywatchers were already outside with cameras rolling when the spiral appeared — a perfect recipe for viral confusion. Many initially assumed a spectacular meteor break-up; others floated more exotic possibilities. In this case, the consensus points to a rocket fuel dump as the culprit.
Seen in your state?
- Local reports: Connecticut (Glastonbury, Bristol, Watertown), New Hampshire (Hooksett, Wilton, Chichester, Lake Winnipesaukee), and across VT/ME/NY/NJ/PA/IL/WI/MO; also Ontario and Québec.
- Expert note: Astronomers emphasized the spiral’s slow motion and clean geometry as tell-tale signs of an upper-stage vent in sunlight — not a meteor.
Bottom line: A beautiful, eerie display that likely traces back to Ariane 6 — with a brief early debate about Vulcan Centaur — and a textbook example of how modern launch traffic can paint the night sky with “mystery” spirals.
