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What Caused Mongolia's 2020 Spiral in the Sky?

Videos from several provinces confirm a real sky display, while a sunlit rocket plume remains the strongest conventional explanation.

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On this page

  • Where and when the spiral was reported
  • What the surviving videos can establish
  • Why a high altitude rocket plume fits
Preview for What Caused Mongolia's 2020 Spiral in the Sky?

Introduction

In late July 2020, people across several western and northern Mongolian provinces recorded an unusual luminous spiral suspended in the night sky. Because the phenomenon was captured from multiple locations, it represents one of Mongolia’s strongest documented unexplained-sky events in the sense that a genuine atmospheric or space-based display was widely observed rather than being a single ambiguous photograph. However, the available evidence does not support claims of an extraordinary craft. Instead, the balance of evidence points towards a high-altitude rocket exhaust plume illuminated by sunlight—a phenomenon that has produced remarkably similar spiral displays around the world.[zmianynaziemi.pl]zmianynaziemi.plJasny spiralny obiekt zaobserwowany w Mongolii | zmianynaziemi.plJuly 24, 2020…Published: July 24, 2020

2020 Spiral illustration 1

The importance of the incident lies less in proving an unidentified flying object than in demonstrating how multiple independent videos can establish that an event was real while still favouring an entirely conventional explanation.

Where and when the spiral was reported

The reports emerged on 23–24 July 2020, with observers in several provinces—including Zavkhan, Arkhangai and Khövsgöl—sharing videos and photographs on Mongolian social media. Some accounts also placed observations near Tes in Zavkhan Province at around 22:35 local time. Although individual timestamps differ slightly between uploads, they consistently describe a large glowing spiral visible over a very wide geographical area rather than a localised light.[SeniorenNet Blog]blog.seniorennet.beSeniorenNet BlogUFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE A…

The broad distribution matters because it rules out many commonplace explanations, including:

  • Lens reflections within a single camera.
  • Nearby drones or aircraft.
  • Local searchlights or lasers.
  • Small atmospheric phenomena confined to one town.

Instead, the observations indicate an object or cloud located at very high altitude, visible simultaneously across hundreds of kilometres.

9:49

Mysterious spirals light up night skies after SpaceX rocket launch

Channel: The Sun · Views: 38.5K · Uploaded: March 2025 · Length: 9 minutes

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What the surviving videos can establish

The surviving footage provides several pieces of useful evidence even though it falls well short of a scientific dataset.

First, multiple recordings show the same distinctive structure: a bright central region surrounded by an expanding spiral or corkscrew pattern. The agreement between independent videos makes fabrication highly unlikely.[SeniorenNet Blog]blog.seniorennet.beSeniorenNet BlogUFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE A…

Second, the feature appears to expand gradually rather than manoeuvre. There is no convincing evidence of abrupt acceleration, directional changes or controlled flight. Instead, the visible structure slowly grows larger while fading, behaviour consistent with an expanding cloud rather than a solid vehicle.

Third, the recordings lack the information needed to reconstruct the event precisely. Publicly available copies generally do not include:

  • Original video files with complete metadata.
  • Calibrated camera directions.
  • Angular measurements.
  • Simultaneous astronomical observations.
  • Radar records.
  • Satellite tracking correlated directly with the recordings.

As a result, investigators cannot determine the exact altitude or reconstruct a precise three-dimensional trajectory solely from the available videos.

0:15

Glowing spiral takes over Europe’s night sky

Channel: Sky News Australia · Views: 38.1K · Uploaded: March 2025 · Length: 15 seconds

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Why a high-altitude rocket plume fits the evidence

Among conventional explanations, a rocket upper-stage exhaust plume provides the closest match to what witnesses recorded.

After completing part of a mission, an upper stage may vent unused propellant or perform a controlled engine burn while slowly rotating for stability. In the near-vacuum of the upper atmosphere or space, the escaping gases expand rapidly into a huge cloud. If this cloud is illuminated by sunlight while observers on the ground are already in darkness, it can appear as a bright white or bluish spiral suspended against the night sky.[apnews.com]apnews.comThe images, taken by a camera near the Subaru telescope, showed a white orb evolving into a spiral before fading away. This was noticed b…

Several characteristics of the Mongolian event closely match this mechanism:

  • A symmetrical spiral centred on a bright core.
  • Gradual outward expansion.
  • No visible propulsion independent of the expanding cloud.
  • Visibility across a very large region.
  • Event duration measured in minutes rather than seconds.

These are all recognised characteristics of illuminated rocket exhaust rather than atmospheric plasma or an aircraft.

2020 Spiral illustration 2

Why the spiral shape appears

The spiral itself often causes confusion because it resembles something actively rotating through the atmosphere.

In reality, the visible spiral is usually produced by two separate processes acting together.

The rocket stage is already rotating slowly to maintain stability or prepare for disposal. When propellant is vented, the escaping gas leaves the vehicle in a continuous stream. Because the stage is spinning, the gas traces out a corkscrew pattern. As the cloud expands into the surrounding vacuum, the spiral becomes much larger and easier to see from the ground. Sunlight reflecting from frozen exhaust particles or condensed vapour makes the entire structure glow dramatically.[AP News]apnews.comThe images, taken by a camera near the Subaru telescope, showed a white orb evolving into a spiral before fading away. This was noticed b…

This combination creates a striking visual illusion of a giant rotating object even though observers are actually seeing sunlight scattered from an expanding cloud many hundreds of kilometres above Earth.

How the Mongolian event compares with known rocket spirals

The July 2020 sighting is not unique.[zmianynaziemi.pl]zmianynaziemi.plJasny spiralny obiekt zaobserwowany w Mongolii | zmianynaziemi.plJuly 24, 2020…Published: July 24, 2020

Astronomers and skywatchers have documented nearly identical spirals following several modern launches, particularly involving upper-stage fuel venting or disposal burns. Similar displays have been observed over Hawaii, Europe and the United Kingdom, where later investigation linked them directly to rocket operations.[apnews.com]apnews.comThe images, taken by a camera near the Subaru telescope, showed a white orb evolving into a spiral before fading away. This was noticed b…

These comparable events share several distinctive features with the Mongolian observations:

  • Large spiral geometry.[thetimes.co.uk]thetimes.co.ukExperts attribute the phenomenon to a fuel dump from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched earlier that day from Florida, carrying a national…
  • Bright central point.
  • Rapid expansion into a diffuse cloud.
  • Visibility across multiple regions simultaneously.
  • Gradual fading without fragmentation.

The close correspondence does not prove that the Mongolian spiral originated from a specific launch vehicle, but it demonstrates that the observed appearance is entirely consistent with a well-understood spaceflight phenomenon.

2020 Spiral illustration 3

What remains uncertain

Although the rocket-plume explanation is the strongest available, some uncertainties remain because of limitations in the surviving evidence.

Publicly available reporting has not produced a complete reconstruction linking every witness video to a specific rocket operation using orbital calculations and precise timing. Nor have official Mongolian aviation or scientific agencies published a formal investigation of the event. Consequently, the explanation remains an evidence-based inference rather than an officially confirmed finding.[SeniorenNet Blog]blog.seniorennet.beSeniorenNet BlogUFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE A…

However, these remaining uncertainties concern the exact launch and flight sequence rather than the broader physical mechanism. Nothing in the published videos requires an exotic explanation.

What the incident tells us about Mongolia’s UFO record

The July 2020 spiral is valuable because it illustrates the difference between an unexplained observation and an unexplained object.

The observation itself is well supported: numerous people across widely separated parts of Mongolia genuinely witnessed an unusual luminous display. That makes it one of the country’s best-attested modern sky events.

The interpretation is different. The available imagery shows a high-altitude phenomenon whose appearance closely matches documented rocket exhaust spirals observed elsewhere in the world. No publicly available evidence demonstrates structured flight, intelligent manoeuvring, radar-confirmed anomalies or physical traces associated with the event. Within Mongolia’s relatively sparse catalogue of reported UFO incidents, the July 2020 spiral therefore stands as the clearest example of a genuine mass observation that is also most convincingly explained by a conventional aerospace mechanism.[zmianynaziemi.pl]zmianynaziemi.plJasny spiralny obiekt zaobserwowany w Mongolii | zmianynaziemi.plJuly 24, 2020…Published: July 24, 2020

Blue and white spirals from Space X Falcon 9 rocket light up skies

Channel: The Independent

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Endnotes

1. Source: zmianynaziemi.pl
Title: Jasny spiralny obiekt zaobserwowany w Mongolii | zmianynaziemi.pl
Link:https://zmianynaziemi.pl/wiadomosc/jasny-spiralny-obiekt-zaobserwowany-w-mongolii

Source snippet

July 24, 2020...

Published: July 24, 2020

2. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336830

Source snippet

SeniorenNet BlogUFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE A...

3. Source: space.com
Title: Eerie blue spiral in night sky over Hawaii spawned by Space X rocket | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/spacex-gps-rocket-launch-spiral-hawaii

4. Source: space.com
Title: Wild blue spiral in New Zealand sky made by Space X rocket (photo) | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/spacex-rocket-launch-blue-spiral-photo

5. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336953

6. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336965

7. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336802

8. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336792

9. Source: blog.seniorennet.be
Link:https://blog.seniorennet.be/peter2011/archief.php?ID=2336782

10. Source: space.com
Title: Strange Sky Spiral May Come from Secretive Space X Zuma Launch | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/39338-spacex-zuma-rocket-sky-spiral-photos.html

11. Source: apnews.com
Link:https://apnews.com/article/d0f19d48010a2ccc26ccba31387d47d5

Source snippet

The images, taken by a camera near the Subaru telescope, showed a white orb evolving into a spiral before fading away. This was noticed b...

12. Source: thetimes.co.uk
Link:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/space-x-sky-spiral-yorkshire-t2cpgdxn2

Source snippet

Experts attribute the phenomenon to a fuel dump from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched earlier that day from Florida, carrying a national...

Additional References

13. Source: globaltimes.cn
Link:https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366091.shtml

Source snippet

Global Times3 days ago — CHINA / SOCIETY 'UFO-like' glow over China's Xinjiang region explained as rocket cloud left by Russia's Soyuz la...

14. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/25/alien-hopes-crash-to-earth-glowing-spiral-uk-spacex-rocket

Source snippet

However, it has been determined that the phenomenon was caused by a SpaceX rocket, specifically the Falcon 9, which launched from Cape Ca...

15. Source: the-independent.com
Title: Spiralling ‘whirlpool’ appears to open up in the sky | The Independent
Link:https://www.the-independent.com/space/whirpool-spacex-rocket-night-sky-spiral-falcon-9-elon-musk-b2273861.html

Source snippet

Space SPIRALLING ‘WHIRLPOOL’ APPEARS TO OPEN UP IN THE SKY A CAMERA ATOP HAWAII’S TALLEST MOUNTAIN HAS CAPTURED WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SPIRAL...

16. Source: phys.org
Title: Camera captures night sky spiral after Space X rocket launch
Link:https://phys.org/news/2023-01-camera-captures-night-sky-spiral.html

Source snippet

Camera captures night sky spiral after SpaceX rocket launchJanuary 28, 2023 — * Jan 28, 2023 CAMERA CAPTURES NIGHT SKY SPIRAL AFTER SPACE...

Published: January 28, 2023

17. Source: youtube.com
Title: Blue and white spirals from Space X Falcon 9 rocket light up skies
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egoUD0ulPgw

Source snippet

Huge Spiral Lit Up the Sky Over America, No One Could Explain It...

18. Source: youtube.com
Title: Huge Spiral Lit Up the Sky Over America, No One Could Explain It
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDAtd-RHAis

Source snippet

Rocket launch creates spiral effect in Mass. sky...

19. Source: youtube.com
Title: Mysterious spirals light up night skies after Space X rocket launch
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp3OdrCOzUI

Source snippet

Glowing spiral takes over Europe's night sky...

20. Source: youtube.com
Title: Glowing spiral takes over Europe’s night sky
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFgyd6WBGrw

Source snippet

Blue and white spirals from Space X Falcon 9 rocket light up skies...

21. Source: livescience.com
Link:https://www.livescience.com/spacex-rocket-launch-nebula-images-by-photographers.html

22. Source: the-independent.com
Link:https://www.the-independent.com/space/new-zealand-aliens-stargazers-blue-light-b2104915.html