Coverage dated April 16, 2023 to April 17, 2023

Odd spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska night sky

Headline from Wfmy News 2, on the newest of 2 developments

The explanation for what happened is actually pretty simple.

Wfmy News 2's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Apr 17, 2023
Rocket science: Alaska sky spiral caused by SpaceX fuel dump
Headline from Phys ·
Apr 18, 2023Newest
Odd spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska night sky
Headline from Wfmy News 2 ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

39 articles, oldest first.

Science Alert
What Caused This Strange Glowing Spiral Over Alaska? There's a Simple Answer (opens Science Alert)
Published Apr 16, 2023
Science Alert's feed description
Spend long enough in America's frozen north, and you get used to seeing stunning displays of nature high in the sky.
MyNorthwest
Rocket science: Alaska sky spiral caused by SpaceX fuel dump (opens MyNorthwest)
Published Apr 16, 2023
MyNorthwest's feed description
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Northern lights enthusiasts got a surprise mixed in with the green bands of light dancing in the Alaska skies: A light baby blue
Wfmy News 2
Odd spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska night sky (opens Wfmy News 2)
Published Apr 17, 2023
Wfmy News 2's feed description
The explanation for what happened is actually pretty simple.
Fortune
SpaceX launch leaves mysterious blue spiral amid northern lights in Alaska night sky (opens Fortune)
Published Apr 17, 2023
Fortune's feed description
The appearance of the swirl was caught in time-lapse on the Geophysical Institute’s all-sky camera and shared widely.
Hawaiitribune Herald
Odd spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska night sky - Hawaii Tribune-Herald (opens Hawaiitribune Herald)
Published Apr 17, 2023
Hawaiitribune Herald's feed description
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Northern light enthusiasts got a surprise mixed in with the green bands of light dancing in the Alaska skies: A light baby blue spiral resembling a galaxy appeared amid the aurora for a few minutes.
Fox News
Alaska sky spiral caused by SpaceX excess fuel dump (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 17, 2023
Fox News's feed description
Alaska's light baby blue sky spiral resembling a galaxy was caused by a SpaceX fuel dump. The SpaceX rocket had launched from California about three hours earlier.
The Guardian
Blue spiral appears amid northern lights in Alaska after SpaceX rocket releases fuel (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 17, 2023
The Guardian's feed description
The appearance of the swirl was shared online after it was caught in time-lapse on the Geophysical Institute’s all-sky camera
People
Photographers Capture 'Mysterious Spiral' That Appeared Over Alaska: Here's What an Expert Says Happened (opens People)
Published Apr 17, 2023
People's feed description
A "mysterious spiral" that was briefly visible in skies over Alaska mystified local photographers who happened to be around to see it.
CBS News
"Mysterious spiral" that looks like hazy, glowing galaxy seen hovering in Alaska's northern lights (opens CBS News)
Published Apr 17, 2023
CBS News's feed description
"I always see strange things in the sky but this was insane," one woman who saw the mysterious spiral said.
Fox News
Odd spiral emerges amid Alaska’s northern lights (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 17, 2023
Fox News's feed description
A swirl appeared during Alaska’s northern lights on Saturday. The uncommon sight was caused by fuel released from a SpaceX rocket which turned to vapor that reflected the sunlight.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.