A striking streak of light that illuminated the early morning sky over Gloucestershire and Devon has been identified as the exhaust plume of a Chinese rocket, experts confirm.
On the morning of December 3, residents across southern England awoke to a mysterious glow that sparked intrigue and speculation. Among them was Gloucestershire local Tim Jackson, who captured the unusual sight on his All-Sky camera around 5:25 a.m. The timelapse footage shows a luminous streak extending toward Cleeve Hill in Cheltenham, offering a rare glimpse of the phenomenon.
Ellie Jarvis, a Clovelly resident in Devon, also photographed the radiant pillar of light suspended against the dark pre-dawn sky. She described the sight as “so straight and high up” and initially mistook it for a natural light display akin to the aurora, a phenomenon she has witnessed before.
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Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell provided clarity, explaining to the BBC that the spectacle was caused by the exhaust plume of the Chinese Zhuque-3 rocket during its inaugural test flight. The exhaust caught the rays of the rising sun, creating an ethereal and striking visual effect that captivated viewers.
Local witnesses shared their amazement and curiosity, exchanging theories before the true nature of the display was revealed. The episode serves as a fascinating reminder of how human space activity can create unexpected yet beautiful sights visible even from the ground.