Mysterious Sky Spiral Visible Across Massachusetts Linked to Rocket Launch

Residents across western Massachusetts reported witnessing a striking spiral formation in the night sky on Tuesday, prompting widespread curiosity and speculation. Meteorologists have attributed the unusual phenomenon to the exhaust plume from a recent rocket launch in Florida. Chris Bouzakis, meteorologist with WWLP-22News, confirmed that the spiraling effect is a common result of venting fuel during such launches.

The spectacle stemmed from the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Station at 8:56 p.m. on Tuesday. Described by Space.com as ULA’s most powerful rocket to date, the colossal vehicle stands 202 feet tall and weighs approximately 1.74 million pounds. The mission, undertaken for a national security space initiative, marked the United States military’s inaugural launch of an experimental navigation satellite in nearly half a century.

The satellite is part of a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) system integral to technologies such as GPS. Following its successful deployment, observers throughout Massachusetts were able to observe the lingering visual signature of the rocket’s ascent. WWLP-22News encourages viewers who captured images or videos of the event to submit them via ReportIt@wwlp.com.