🌠 Aurora Watchers Stunned by Rocket Trail Across U.S. Sky

On the night of May 17, 2025, skywatchers across the U.S. witnessed a rare double spectacle: a surprise aurora display accompanied by a mysterious white streak. Cutting across the sky, this streak was later identified as a fuel dump from a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket passing overhead at about 155 miles ⤴️

When the white streak first appeared alongside the aurora, many initially mistook it for STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement). This rare atmospheric phenomenon can sometimes occur with auroras. Unlike the fuel dump, STEVE appears as a purple and green light ribbon that typically aligns on an east-west axis and shows up at latitudes closer to the equator than traditional auroras.

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