Stargazers hoping to catch shooting stars from the dazzling Perseid meteor shower got an unexpected treat recently: a breathtaking spiral of ghostly white light streaking through the night sky. While we know what the sight was, its origins are still shrouded in mystery.

Around 10:30 p.m. ET on August 12, as the meteor shower peaked, a faint glimmer appeared over parts of the U.S. and Canada. It unfolded into a stunning luminous whirlpool that danced across the sky for roughly 10 minutes before vanishing. Witnesses in at least ten states, including Maryland, New York, and Illinois, were mesmerized by this celestial phenomenon.

Photographer Joshua Thum immortalized the ethereal moment above Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, while fellow astrophotographer Dan Bush captured striking footage of the spiral in Albany, Missouri.

Experts quickly identified the spectacle as a cloud of frozen rocket fuel released from a spacecraft preparing to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The fuel crystallizes, reflecting sunlight and creating this breathtaking light show until it dissipates. The rocket typically spins when the fuel is jettisoned, resulting in the spiral form.

Initially, many speculated that the spiral was linked to a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket that launched just hours prior. However, intrigue grew as it was revealed that an Ariane 6 rocket from the European Space Agency had launched just 19 minutes earlier, sparking debates over the true source of this dazzling display.

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell surmised that the Ariane 6 rocket was likely the cause based on its trajectory, but consensus remains elusive. "There's a lot of debate about this one, so I’m not making any guesses," stated Dan Bush, emphasizing the confusion surrounding its origin.

With an increase in rocket launches, particularly from private companies like SpaceX, such luminous displays have become more frequent. In fact, many glowing structures in the night sky are now referred to as "SpaceX spirals" after similar events linked to their Falcon 9 rockets.

As the mysteries of space continue to unfold, each celestial event captivates our imagination, reminding us of the wonders that exist beyond our earthly confines.