Mysterious Bowtie Light Briefly Illuminates Ohio Sky, Traced to Rocket Launches

Residents across central Ohio were captivated Saturday night by an unusual and striking phenomenon – a bright, bowtie-shaped illumination visible in the night sky. Initial speculation ranged widely, fueled by its atypical appearance, but authorities have since attributed the spectacle to rocket launches occurring over the Atlantic Ocean and near French Guiana.

The celestial display, observed on August 12th, initially baffled observers as it defied easy categorization; it appeared too expansive for an aircraft, lacked the characteristic trajectory of a meteor, and was far too large to be mistaken for a satellite. The cause quickly became a topic of online discussion, with some suggesting extraordinary explanations.

Prior to the Vulcan launch, an Ariane 6 rocket, operated by Arianespace, launched from French Guiana carrying a weather satellite for the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. Its planned trajectory involved a circumnavigation that would have taken it over Canada and eventually back through the eastern United States and Canada, with booster separation occurring over U.S. airspace.

While ULA initially expressed uncertainty about its rocket being responsible for the observed light, Aaron Lewis, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Government Relations for Arianespace, indicated that the spectacle was most likely due to the Vulcan launch. Further investigation is ongoing.

Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com and @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.