Weird Norwegian Skies

By Miss Cellania in Pictures on Dec 9, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Last night a strange spiral lit up the sky over Norway, from Trøndelag to Finnmark, and many people took pictures.

The phenomenon began when what appeared to be a blue light seemed to soar up from behind a mountain. It stopped mid-air, then began to circulate.

Within seconds a giant spiral had covered the entire sky. Then a green-blue beam of light shot out from its centre – lasting for ten to twelve minutes before disappearing completely.

Russia denied any missile tests in the area. Link to story. Link to photo gallery. -via Metafilter

(image credit: Svein-Egil Haugen)


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  1. Thor
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    When I wuz in Norway at a ‘Norwegian Wood’ camp, I lighted one wicked ‘Blue angel’!!

    - Geez, I wonder if it was yesterday. Or the day before?!?

    All I know is that there will be a Saga written of it for generations to come… ;P

  2. Johnny Cat
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

    This is the strangest thing I think I’ve ever heard of. I remember hearing theories about the military tinkering with giant holography. (Adjusts tinfoil hat) This reminds me of that. Minus the whole success part.

    Other theories? Time travelers? Black Hole?

  3. Miss Cellania
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    I think it’s viral advertising.

  4. Johnny Cat
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    Don’t you mean spiral advertising? ;)

  5. Gauldar
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    @Thor

    Mmmm, yes. Isn’t it good, that Norwegian Wood?

  6. Edward
    Dec 9th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    The majority of the photos are fakes. The three that appear to be real show a missile being shot down by a laser.

  9. Tim Giachetti
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 1:56 am

    Miss Cis right. Go to the article and the very first photo actually shows where it is projected onto the clouds from the hill top at the right of the photo.

    Nothing mysterious here, just a cool laser show.

    SeaWorld Orlando does the same/similar effect on fountains during there nightly ending show.

  10. Øyvind
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 3:10 am

    @Tim: Not a laser show. It was visible over such a long distance, it had to be higher up than any cloud-laser-thingy would be.
    The consensus here in Norway is that it was a failed russian rocket launch. The russians do occasionally launch in this area, a successful one was launched only a few weeks ago, I believe.
    The explanation one astronomer gave yesterday was that the rocket failed and spun out, and probably ignited its fuel in the air, giving the spiral pattern.

  11. Øyvind
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 3:52 am

    Updated info today, actually.
    Sources in the Russian navy says a medium-range (ballistic?) missile test from a submarine in the White Sea failed.

  12. dooflotchie
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    OK, so it turned out it really *WAS* a failed rocket. My question is this: When is some genius going to figure out how to apply this rocket science (hahaha…!) to create fireworks that give the same visual effect?

    I’m not being sarcastic here, I really want to see that happen because the missile test failure LOOKED REALLY FREAKIN’ COOL! :-D

  13. Øyvind
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Oh, I’m sure it can be done.
    Maybe not quite like this, since this thing probably had some crazy fuel (and lots of it), but I’ve seen some really cool fireworks doing some amazing stuff.
    Problem is, most of the really cool fireworks is mostly banned or at least severely restricted in this part of the world.

  15. Lea
    Dec 10th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    My immediate thought was “why would Russia immediately deny it? It has to be them!”
    If not a hoax, photoshop, conspiracy, or further proof of global warming. Did I cover them all? Oh, and North Korea.

  17. Michael W
    Dec 11th, 2009 at 10:20 am

    My immediate thought was “why would Russia immediately deny it? It has to be them!”

    Because it failed. Failed rockets arent great military PR.

  18. Kimberly SH
    Jan 12th, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    Just so all y’all know, this was a test done by the Russians of a laser. They admitted it yesterday.


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