Authorities have confirmed that unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings reported over Xi'an's ancient city walls early Friday were rocket exhaust trails from a satellite launch at 4:45 am Beijing Time.
The clarification came after numerous residents in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, captured videos of the spectacular phenomenon. Footage showed a luminous object with an exceptionally long tail ascending diagonally from the horizon, displaying secondary ejection bursts before vanishing after approximately one minute.
The event coincided with China's successful launch of the Long March 6 carrier rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, approximately 500 km northeast of Xi'an. The rocket deployed the fourth satellite group for China's low Earth orbit internet constellation into preset orbit.
山西汾阳的天文摄影师吉米(化名)告诉记者,长长拖尾实际上是火箭云,在天空中形成了“暮光效应”。
Astrophotographer "Jimmy" from nearby Fenyang city explained the luminous trail resulted from a "twilight effect" – an optical phenomenon occurring when rocket propellant particles disperse in the upper atmosphere and scatter sunlight. This effect, often visible hundreds of kilometers from launch sites during dawn or dusk, typically displays vivid blue or orange hues.