This article from Bad Astronomer contains a video showing a simulation of a tumbling booster jetting something from two different openings. It looks almost identical to the thing in the sky.
It’s almost certainly a Russian rocket that failed, even though they are denying it. Well, that or the arrival of Azathoth, one or the other.
Is Falcon’s dad out on parole already?
Looks like the tumbling rocket has it. I’m reasonably convinced by that.
We’ve had it for the next thirty years now.
A great explanation in this demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8i5EfmYU4
Looks like Georgia O’Keefe decided to reincarnate in Norway.
Show off.
In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu lies dreaming no more!
There are now dozens of pictures of the phenomenon - see my post prior to this - and while the initial assessment you gave may have had some credence as an explanation (though I’ve never seen a beam of light form a spiral before) after the first couple of pictures and videos, it doesn’t stack up either to the distance at which this thing was seen, nor the translucent blue cloud that was visible as the sun came up, nor the exhaust trails at the horizon. And indeed it does seem that the explanation is that it was a rocket failure. Please compare the many pictures of the event now available with the NASA rocket exhaust pictures that Squink posted - as well as the video on the bad astronomer site.
Just want to point out that the sun won’t rise in those parts of Norway for several weeks.
Nope, it’s still there: http://www.merjuligavle.se/Bocken/Bockenkamera1/
Is there a hint of dawn for a while though, before it goes dark again?
Yes, depending on how far north you are, and how close it is to solstice. So it’s actually correct that it’s the rising sun illuminating the clouds, it just wasn’t going to rise above the horizon.
Here’s a webcam picture from Tromsø that I saved a couple of minutes ago: http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/Floater_photo/tromso.jpg.
That’s a hell of a view!
But it’s getting dark now: http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/Floater_photo/tromso_2.jpg
BTW The camera can be found at http://weather.cs.uit.no/
I was initially curious about the statements saying the blue beam of light shot out of the centre. If it was a beam of light, it would be impossible to determine whether it was shooting out of, or into the centre, because light travels so fast.
However, if (as seems likely) the blue streak is the ascending trail, illuminated by the almost-rising sun, the illumination would progress from top to bottom, exactly as described.
Russia just admitted it was yet another failed test of their Bulava intercontinental missile.
I remember back in the 70s when they’d give those away as consolation prizes on game shows. Good times.
So, coremelt, about that Gobo…
And yet, There was an arson attempt at the same time. The fire department had to be called. Sheer coincidence? I think not.
