White spiral hovers above Pennsylvania again

(WHTM) — For the second time this month, a mysterious white spiral appeared above central Pennsylvania.

No, it’s not aliens. But space travel was behind the glowing apparition.

NASA said it safely launched its TOMEX+ sounding rockets from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility tonight in Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch started at 10:43 p.m., which meant many people looking to the sky shortly after 11 p.m. saw the rockets’ vapor tracers.

Vapor tracers appear over Pennsylvania after the TOMEX+ sounding rockets launched from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Wallops Island, Virginia. | Nick Dampman abc27 NewsVapor tracers appear over Pennsylvania after the TOMEX+ sounding rockets launched from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Wallops Island, Virginia. | Nick Dampman abc27 NewsVapor tracers appear over Pennsylvania after the TOMEX+ sounding rockets launched from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Wallops Island, Virginia. | Nick Dampman abc27 News

Researchers use vapor trails to study atmospheric winds. NASA said this mission aims to provide the clearest 3D view of turbulence in a region at the edge of space.

On Aug. 12, Midstaters flooded the abc27 News phonelines to report a similar spiral in the sky during the Perseid meteor shower.

Spiral in the sky spotted over Pennsylvania

Officials said that spiral likely came from a frozen plume of fuel from a rocket’s exhaust, which reflects the sunlight and appears to spin in the atmosphere. Several rocket launches were slated for that night.

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