Weather of Arabia - The camera of the "Subaru" Observatory captured a mysterious vortex over Monakia in Hawaii, resembling a spiral galaxy in space, and it is believed that the appearance of the vortex is linked to the launch of a new satellite by "SpaceX".
SpaceX sent a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite into space on Wednesday (January 18) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, and shortly thereafter, the Subaru telescope spotted a glowing spiral above it.
Officials from the Japanese National Astronomical Observatory wrote in a tweet: “The mysterious spiral shape observed by the Subaru telescope appears to be related to the launch of a new satellite by SpaceX.”
On Jan 18, 2023 (HST), the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawai`i. The spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite.
Watch the video: https://t.co/851Gz7VojV #SubaruTelescope pic.twitter.com/Np58fxpX9e- Subaru Telescope Eng (@SubaruTel_Eng) January 19, 2023
The scientist and satellite tracker Scott Tilley commented, saying that the location of the spiral shape was identical to the place where the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket was expected to be in the minutes following the launch. After sending its payload, the Falcon 9 began to vent its fuel, while the first stage returned from Rocket to Earth for vertical landing aboard a SpaceX drone.
Several glowing shapes were detected in conjunction with the launch of the SpaceX rockets.
This isn't the first time similar glowing circular shapes have been spotted after SpaceX rocket launches. People as far away as New Zealand witnessed such a swirl in the sky after the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, whereupon space observers said the shape was created when the rocket's first stage fired off unnecessary fuel during its long descent into the ocean, as it rotated on its longest axis to stabilize the flight's direction. Hence the spiral shape.
(The spiral shape that appeared in the New Zealand sky after the launch of a SpaceX rocket on June 21, 2022)
The Falcon 9 has been known to leave many interesting glowing hues after launch, such as the "space jellyfish" that appeared in the dawn sky over the Florida coast.
These shapes occur when gas exits the rocket engine nozzles at a pressure higher than the atmosphere, and the gas is illuminated by sunlight (which is still below the horizon), according to an earlier tweet from Chris Coombs, a professor of aerodynamics and mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
SPACE JELLYFISH
From today's SpaceX launch. Beautiful pic.twitter.com/98mzIGHDOm
— Chris Combs (iterative design fan) (@DrChrisCombs) May 6, 2022
It is noteworthy that SpaceX sent five missions into space in the first 19 days of 2023. If it continues at this pace, the number will reach 96 missiles by the end of the year, unless weather and technical factors lead to a delay.
In 2022, SpaceX achieved a record 61 launches, doubling its 2021 record of 31 launch.
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