Ariane 6 Deorbit Burn Lights Up the Eastern US and Canadian Skies
A captivating event unfolded last night, treating observers across the eastern United States and Canada to a remarkable sight: the deorbit burn of the Ariane 6 upper stage.
The deorbit burn commenced at 0235 UTC on August 13th (10:35 PM EDT on August 12th). This was followed by a spin-up and propellant dump around 0245 UTC. The phenomenon was widely observed as the Ariane 6003 upper stage began its descent towards a fiery reentry over the Indian Ocean, approximately half an orbit later.
Many took to social media to share their experiences of witnessing this unusual celestial event. Descriptions ranged from spotting a "spinning cloud with a solid white light in the center" to initial confusion about what exactly was being observed. One commenter humorously noted the potential for mistaken identity, suggesting that people might report seeing a UFO.
The clear skies and the position of the moon likely contributed to the visibility of the event. For many, the sight started as a perplexing "spotlight? odd cloud? wtf?" before the object eventually disappeared, leaving behind a sense of wonder.
