Reports from Italy and France on Monday revealed a strange blue spiral in the night sky, sparking curiosity and speculation.
The phenomenon, visible from regions spanning from Alto Garda to Valpolicella in Italy, and the Var in France, was later identified as the result of the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage venting.
The SpaceX rocket, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was deploying the Globalstar FM15 satellite.
Similar spirals have been observed previously following SpaceX launches, occurring under specific atmospheric conditions.