On the night of May 17, 2025, skywatchers across parts of the United States were captivated by a vibrant aurora display resulting from an unexpected geomagnetic storm. However, amidst this spectacle, a peculiar white streak sliced through the night sky, leaving many perplexed and wondering about its origin. This unusual sight, initially mistaken by some for a rare auroral phenomenon, ultimately had a more terrestrial explanation.
The auroras themselves were a beautiful sight, painting the skies above Colorado and southern states with shades of green, blue, and red. This stunning display was triggered by the aftermath of solar flares and a coronal mass ejection (CME) – a powerful burst of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun – that occurred a few days prior. While initially predicted to miss Earth, a portion of the CME grazed our planet’s magnetic field, initiating the geomagnetic storm and the resultant auroras.
The Enigmatic White Streak
The truly puzzling event unfolded around 11:30 p.m. Mountain Time on May 17th, when a brilliant white streak illuminated the sky. Social media platforms buzzed with speculation, with many initially suspecting it to be a peculiar manifestation of STEVE, a distinct purple and green light band often observed near auroras, also a product of space weather. Photographer Mike Lewinski, capturing the event over Crestone, Colorado, described it as “a bright streak of light, reminiscent of a rocket re-entry,” descending from high in the sky to the horizon.
Rocket Launch Unveiled
However, the mysterious streak was not STEVE, but rather the result of a recent rocket launch. Approximately an hour before the streak appeared across the southwestern U.S., the Chinese company Landspace launched its Zhuque-2E methane-fueled rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This rocket carried six satellites into orbit, and the white streak likely corresponded with the rocket’s re-entry preparations.
Astronomer Jonathan McDowell explained on X (formerly Twitter) that the unusual event was likely caused by the rocket’s upper stage traversing the U.S. The white streak, he suggested, was probably a fuel dump occurring at an altitude of approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) as the rocket passed over the Four Corners region.
Not an Isolated Incident
This isn’t the first time rocket launches have created captivating, yet initially confusing, aerial displays. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, for instance, have produced mesmerizing spiral patterns in the night sky. As space activity continues to increase, we can anticipate more of these intriguing, and sometimes perplexing, celestial phenomena.
In conclusion, the striking white streak observed across the U.S. sky on May 17, 2025, while initially shrouded in mystery, was ultimately identified as the result of a Chinese rocket launch. This event highlights the increasing frequency of human-made phenomena interacting with natural celestial occurrences, reminding us that the skies above are a dynamic and ever-changing canvas.
