Mystery spiral above Norway most likely failed rocket launch

[Brandonv]

These are some amazing pictures and I have to say that I would have been completely baffled if I saw it.

As much as I would like to think that someone is testing a wormhole generator, Phil Plait at the Bad Astronomy blog thinks that the spiral was most likely caused by a failed rocket launch. Russia denies launching any rocket.

Watching that second video at the first link, I half expected the Narada from Trek XI to come flying out of the spiral.

 

[Sky]

That's amazing. :-o

 

[Jetfire]

That doesn't look like a failed rocket launch.

 

[Shazam!]

Have you seen many failed rocket launches?

 

[gh4chiefs]

Rocket or whatever, that would have freaked the crap out of me if I had seen that live. That looks like something right out of a sci-fi movie.

 

[Jetfire]

Have you seen many failed rocket launches?

I have seen a few...they never looked like that. Ofcourse I am not an expert so ignore me.

 

[Kaziarl]

The second video wasn't very clear, but it almost looked like something was "building up" then shot off like an engine. Don't really know how to explain how I interpreted it then that. Maybe someone is testing a new form of propulsion and the light is a side effect? Although I suppose it would have been seen sooner then now with that kind of calling card.

edit:
On the sites you link to I keep seeing people say it's a rocket. Now, while I'm not a rocket scientist, I've seen lots of footage, and launched a few home made rockets. I've never seen a spiral from a rocket that was as uniform as seen in those images.

Not only that, but once the rocket left the trail behind, the trail didn't continue to spin at a steady pace.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention that.

 

[Geckothan]

It's the lizard people getting ready for an attack.

 

[Sky]

Geckothan, great avatar.
He's waving to Mr. Morden, isn't he?

 

[Verteron]

Amazing stuff.

It's pretty much been confirmed as a failed Russian missile launch:
http://gizmodo.com/5422792/this-is-how-the-mysterious-giant-spiral-happened

Perhaps knowing what really happened might give people who scream "aliens" when they see lights in the sky some perspective - there's plenty of interesting things going on in the skies of Earth, quite a number of which we can't explain, without invoking little green men.

 

[Sky]

Haha, I just posted that same link to the same thread discussing the issue. Yup. Seems to have been a failed Bulava. The video behind the link explains it really well.

 

[Gertch]

These are some amazing pictures and I have to say that I would have been completely baffled if I saw it.

Last time I saw something like that two guys used it to go back in time. Course that was back in the 60's.

 

[Mr Pointy Ears]

We will be seeing a sphere shaped spaceship exiting the wormhole to assilmilated humans,followed by humans from the future to stop them

 

[Kaziarl]

We will be seeing a sphere shaped spaceship exiting the wormhole to assilmilated humans,followed by humans from the future to stop them

You're too early, we haven't had world war 3 yet.

 

[kes7]

Um, I grew up next to a rocket launching site and never saw anything remotely like that. I've seen weird things, to be sure, but perfect, spinning spirals? No.

Maybe Zefram Cochrane lives after all?

 

[CaptainStoner]

I can't wait to check Coast Coast AM

 

[Australis]

We will be seeing a sphere shaped spaceship exiting the wormhole to assilmilated humans,followed by humans from the future to stop them

You're too early, we haven't had world war 3 yet.

Timeline's been changed, remember?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

That's one expensive Catherine Wheel.

 

[FordSVT]

Um, I grew up next to a rocket launching site and never saw anything remotely like that. I've seen weird things, to be sure, but perfect, spinning spirals? No.

You've seen a lot multi-stage rocket tests fail in the upper atmosphere in the middle of the night?

Apparently, even the fail-safe shutdowns on the rocket didn't work, as apparently when something like this fails its thrust is terminated.

 

[Data Holmes]

Even if it is as simple to explain as a malfunctioning rocket test, it is still rather off putting, if you ask me.