Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. The alarming swirl that lit up New Brunswick's night sky came from fuel dumped by a 900-tonne rocket launched by the European Space Agency out of Kourou, French Guiana. SUBMITTED Article content A mysterious, moving spiral of light that lit up the sky Tuesday night – and social media afterwards – has been identified as fuel dumped by a European Space Agency rocket in the upper atmosphere. Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to keep reading. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite journalists. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or View more offers Already a subscriber? Login If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content The rocket was launched at the only spaceport owned by a European nation, near the town of Kourou, French Guiana, France’s enclave in South America. Ariane 6, Europe’s heavy space launcher, took off at 6:02 p.m. Tuesday, carrying a Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite, according to an Arianespace press release. The European Union satellite, carrying an advanced weather imagery radar instrument, separated from the launcher 34 minutes after lift-off and was successfully placed into orbit at an altitude of 693 kilometres – but not before dumping some fuel. The dumped fuel created a unique and spooky scene in the night sky over New Brunswick, and much of eastern North America. “We were just out walking the dog and saw two spiraling, bright tails coming from something in the sky,” Fredericton resident Aidan MacSwain said. “It was moving quick enough that it couldn’t have been too far away … so we weren’t really sure what we were seeing.” Morning Email Telegraph-Journal A clear and concise roundup to start your weekday morning. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Morning Email Telegraph-Journal will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Source: https://tj.news/fredericton-west/ufo-identified-fuel-from-european-rocket-illuminates-night-sky