Mystery Sky Beam Over UK? Chinese Rocket Lights Up Dawn!

A mysterious pillar of light was seen in the sky over Clovelly, Devon, and in several other locations across the UK, sparking curiosity and excitement among those who witnessed it. The sighting occurred early Thursday morning, with a bright, vertical streak shining from the sea up into the dark blue sky. Many people wondered what could have caused such an unusual display. According to experts, the most likely explanation is that the light was created by a Chinese rocket. The rocket, named Zhuque-3, was making its first test flight after launching from China at 04:02 GMT. It passed over the UK and northern Europe at around 05:00 GMT, leaving behind a long, linear trail as it dumped excess propellant. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in the US, confirmed that Chinese rockets are known to create these kinds of trails during their flights.

Ellie Jarvis, a resident of Clovelly, described her experience of seeing the light. She said she had never witnessed anything like it before and initially thought it might be a natural phenomenon, such as an aurora or a light pillar. She tried to determine if the light was coming from a ship or from across the bay, but it appeared to be much higher in the sky than any local source could reach. Some people considered the possibility of a jet contrail, but this idea was dismissed because the trail was too widespread and bright to be caused by an airplane.

Vertical light effects, known as light pillars, can sometimes occur when ice crystals high in the atmosphere reflect sunlight at low angles, creating striking visual displays. Similar lights were reported in other areas, including Bulwick in Northamptonshire, where a spiral light was seen against the night sky. In another location, a lighthouse was illuminated by red and green lights in the sky, which were reflected in a pool of water below. The unusual lights prompted many people to share their photos and stories online, hoping to solve the mystery. Experts now believe that the Chinese rocket is the most likely cause of the glowing streak seen by so many across the UK.