They saw a ghostly, light-blue swirl in the sky. Researchers say it was excess fuel expelled from a SpaceX rocket. That fuel turned into ice in the atmosphere and reflected light from the sun.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Good morning. I’m Leila Fadel. Stargazers in Alaska saw a rare sight while checking out the northern lights this weekend – a ghostly light-blue swirl in the sky. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks say it was excess fuel expelled from a SpaceX rocket that took off from California Friday night. That fuel turned into ice in the atmosphere and reflected light from the sun. So it wasn’t a wormhole to an alien galaxy, which is either a big disappointment or a big relief. It’s MORNING EDITION.
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