Latest news with #StrongThermalEmissionVelocityEnhancement
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomer: Mystery light over Arizona likely from rocket
May 21 (UPI) -- A mysterious beam of light seen in the night sky over Arizona and neighboring states was likely caused by a Chinese rocket, an astronomer said. The light sparked speculation online when it was spotted in the sky on the night of May 16, with some hypothesizing it could be energized particles in the atmosphere causing a space weather phenomenon known as Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, or STEVE. Other theories included reflections from ice crystals in the atmosphere, meteor activity or even extraterrestrial intervention. Astronomer Tony Phillips wrote on that the light was most likely caused by a Chinese rocket launched about an hour before the reported U.S. sightings. He said the beam of light may have been from the rocket falling our of orbit or from the deployment of its satellites. "This plume was not an aurora, and it was not STEVE. We believe it is related to a rocket launch in China," Phillips wrote.
UPI
21-05-2025
- Science
- UPI
Astronomer: Mystery light over Arizona likely from rocket
May 21 (UPI) -- A mysterious beam of light seen in the night sky over Arizona and neighboring states was likely caused by a Chinese rocket, an astronomer said. The light sparked speculation online when it was spotted in the sky on the night of May 16, with some hypothesizing it could be energized particles in the atmosphere causing a space weather phenomenon known as Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, or STEVE. Other theories included reflections from ice crystals in the atmosphere, meteor activity or even extraterrestrial intervention. Astronomer Tony Phillips wrote on that the light was most likely caused by a Chinese rocket launched about an hour before the reported U.S. sightings. He said the beam of light may have been from the rocket falling our of orbit or from the deployment of its satellites. "This plume was not an aurora, and it was not STEVE. We believe it is related to a rocket launch in China," Phillips wrote.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
China paints US skies with a mysterious white streak, baffles onlookers
A powerful and unusual geomagnetic storm on the evening of May 17, 2025, courtesy of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun painted the American Southwest skies in brilliant auroras. The storm was so powerful it extended the auroral oval far further south than is normal, enabling residents of states such as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico to be treated to sheer curtains of red and green light flashing across the nighttime sky. The White Streak: What Actually Occurred In the midst of this natural wonder, a bright, white streak zoomed across the sky, fascinating sky observers and generating far-reaching speculation. Some initially thought it was STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), an atmospheric event. Yet authorities soon established that the streak was neither STEVE nor an ordinary auroral feature. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Girls Show Their Perfect Figure In These Sport Photos Take At Perfect Time True Edition Undo undefined The Actual Reason: A Recent Launch By China The actual reason, as stated by and other accounts, was associated with a recent Chinese rocket flight. About an hour before the streak slid in the night sky, the Chinese firm Landscape had sent its Zhuque-2E methane-burning rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Site 96 in China . Six satellites were launched into orbit on this mission, including a radar satellite and a space science payload. Live Events The white streak seen streaking across the U.S. was probably due to a de-orbit or circularization burn. These kinds of burns can leave dramatic, glowing plumes visible across great distances, particularly when they are caught in sunlight at high altitudes. China's Growing Space Program and Global Concerns China's space program is expanding steadily, with regular launches and complex missions. Though impressive, these developments also undermine the problems of space debris accumulation and risks posed by rocket stages and other equipment re-entering the atmosphere or making burns over populated regions. Previous incidents, such as the 2023 re-entry and burning up of a Chinese rocket over Nepal, have drawn international attention and criticism, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and global cooperation in space activities. The ghostly white trail across the U.S. Southwest was no atmospheric wonder, but the evident mark of a recent Chinese rocket. This phenomenon, against the background of a magnificent geomagnetic storm, highlights the interdependency of human space operations and natural astrophysical events. With China and other countries pushing deeper into space, incidents such as this bring into focus the need for global cooperation and effective space traffic control in order to protect the safety of missions in space and terrestrial life.
Economic Times
20-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
China paints US skies with a mysterious white streak, baffles onlookers
A powerful geomagnetic storm created stunning auroras in the American Southwest on May 17, 2025. Amidst this spectacle, a bright streak appeared, initially mistaken for an atmospheric event. It was later identified as a plume from a recent Chinese rocket launch, highlighting concerns about space debris and the need for global cooperation in space activities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The White Streak: What Actually Occurred The Actual Reason: A Recent Launch By China Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads China's Growing Space Program and Global Concerns A powerful and unusual geomagnetic storm on the evening of May 17, 2025, courtesy of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun painted the American Southwest skies in brilliant auroras. The storm was so powerful it extended the auroral oval far further south than is normal, enabling residents of states such as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico to be treated to sheer curtains of red and green light flashing across the nighttime the midst of this natural wonder, a bright, white streak zoomed across the sky, fascinating sky observers and generating far-reaching speculation. Some initially thought it was STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), an atmospheric event. Yet authorities soon established that the streak was neither STEVE nor an ordinary auroral actual reason, as stated by and other accounts, was associated with a recent Chinese rocket flight. About an hour before the streak slid in the night sky, the Chinese firm Landscape had sent its Zhuque-2E methane-burning rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Site 96 in China. Six satellites were launched into orbit on this mission, including a radar satellite and a space science white streak seen streaking across the U.S. was probably due to a de-orbit or circularization burn. These kinds of burns can leave dramatic, glowing plumes visible across great distances, particularly when they are caught in sunlight at high space program is expanding steadily, with regular launches and complex missions. Though impressive, these developments also undermine the problems of space debris accumulation and risks posed by rocket stages and other equipment re-entering the atmosphere or making burns over populated incidents, such as the 2023 re-entry and burning up of a Chinese rocket over Nepal, have drawn international attention and criticism, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and global cooperation in space ghostly white trail across the U.S. Southwest was no atmospheric wonder, but the evident mark of a recent Chinese rocket. This phenomenon, against the background of a magnificent geomagnetic storm, highlights the interdependency of human space operations and natural astrophysical China and other countries pushing deeper into space, incidents such as this bring into focus the need for global cooperation and effective space traffic control in order to protect the safety of missions in space and terrestrial life.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Skywatchers stunned: What was that bizarre white streak during the aurora?
credit: instagram/mikelewinski@flickr The American southwest skies burst into a spectacular cosmic display, leaving thousands of spectators mesmerized. On the night of Saturday, May 17, 2025, a once-in-a-lifetime, shocking spectacle of radiant green and purple auroras was observed across the entire expanse of the sky. An already rare phenomenon in itself was jolted by an unexplained, blinding white flash slicing abruptly across the sky. This ghostly-appearing, nearly otherworldly flash brightened the night with brilliant intensity, intriguing the sky observers and touching off a storm of conjecture. What was this oddly lovely streak? Around 11:30 p.m., a bright white streak was visible high up in the sky over Colorado and surrounding states. At first, individuals thought it might be an atmospheric occurrence called STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), which typically is a purple or white ribbon blazing across the sky during powerful solar storms. But it was something else entirely. So what was it? Astronomer Jonathan McDowell verified that the white trail was a fuel dump from the chinese Zhuque-2E rocket's upper stage. Fired earlier the same evening from the Jiuquan Satellite launch facility in China. As the upper stage of the rocket flew over the U.S four corners country at an altitude of about 155 miles (250 km), it dropped a plume of exhaust that reflected the light, causing a bright contrail to be visible throughout the southwestern U.S. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 '실비보험' 최적가 가입추천! "주요 보험사별 맞춤견적+가성비 굿"... 굿리치 보험대리점 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가입하기 Undo The rocket just flew as the geomagnetic storm peaked, causing the auroras and white streak to appear at the same time. Photographers across the entire impacted region snapped excellent images of the display. Mike Lewinski, who was present in Crestone, Colorado, described, "The aurora was rippling low on the northern horizon when suddenly a brilliant streak of light, much like a rocket re-entry, appeared high in the sky and flowed down to the horizon. What was the public response? Clearly, a phenomenon and light as unusual as this will cause panic and commotion among the masses, particularly on social media websites, with a lot of users posting pictures and speculating as to what the white streak in the sky would be. Some believed that it could be a UFO, while others believed that maybe it was some new atmospheric phenomenon. Is this the new era's skywatching ? The breathtaking occurrences of May 17 will probably be forever seared into the memory of those who were lucky enough to see them, not only for the oddly lovely design but also for the dreamlike imposition of a man-made event upon one of nature's most spectacular spectacles. This moment is a breathtaking example of our time: an era in which the wonders of the universe and the universe can illuminate the sky simultaneously and breathtakingly.
