Mysterious Aerial Lights Explained as Rocket Fuel Dump Across Midwest

Witnesses across Minnesota and Wisconsin were captivated Tuesday evening by a series of unusual lights appearing in the night sky just before 10:00 p.m. Central Time. The luminous display, described as resembling a glowing spirograph, initially prompted speculation ranging from unidentified flying objects to celestial events such as the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. However, authorities have confirmed that the phenomenon was caused by jettisoned rocket fuel during simultaneous launches from different locations.

The European Space Agency’s Ariane 6 rocket, carrying a four-ton weather satellite, successfully reached orbit at 7:37 p.m. CT. A subsequent fuel dump performed by the rocket approximately two hours later, around 9:45 p.m. CT, coincided with reports of the strange lights across a wide geographic area spanning from Minnesota to other parts of the United States.

Simultaneously, the United Launch Alliance launched its Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 7:56 p.m. CT, deploying an experimental navigation satellite into orbit. At high altitudes, residual rocket fuel can freeze and form ice crystals. Illuminated by sunlight while viewed from the darkness below, these crystalline formations appear as visible cloud-like structures that often display swirling patterns, according to space agency experts. The dual launches occurring within a short timeframe resulted in the extraordinary visual spectacle observed across the Midwest.