Last night, an unusual celestial event was observed over Ukraine. In various regions of the country, a thin but bright beam was seen holding steady among the stars for a few seconds before disappearing toward the horizon, reports Baltimore Chronicle, citing the popular science Telegram channel “The Universe in Your Pocket.” Photos of this extraordinary event quickly filled social media, with people speculating on its cause – a comet, a meteorite, or another atmospheric phenomenon.
However, it was later revealed that the phenomenon had an artificial origin. According to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, the beam was caused by the launch of the Chinese CZ-8A rocket, which took place yesterday at 10:08 PM Kyiv time. When the rocket’s second stage released fuel from the upper stage, it created the glow that was seen in the sky.
This remarkable beam was visible not only over Ukraine but also in the Czech Republic and Germany. It remained visible for about 15 minutes, creating a unique spectacle in the night sky. It’s also important to note that the phenomenon was not an extraordinary event for scientists, but rather a routine occurrence linked to the rocket launch.
Earlier we wrote that Canada sent 40 thousand rocket engines to Ukraine.