Astronomers are blaming Elon Musk’s SpaceX for punching a series of holes in the atmosphere, which they think are creating blood-red auroras, according to an analysis published Tuesday.
It turns out sending rockets into space can temporarily cause massive holes in the upper ionosphere — roughly 50 to 400 miles into the sky — which can excite gas molecules and cause strange auroras, according to Live Science. The outlet cited an example of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in July, which accidentally ripped a hole in the ionosphere above Arizona and created a small red glow.
A U.S. Space Force rocket did the same in September, but apparently astronomers are mostly concerned with SpaceX rockets. Astronomers at the McDonald Observatory in Texas have spotted a series of similar lights appearing well after SpaceX rockets leave Earth’s atmosphere, suggesting these rips aren’t temporary, according to a SpaceWeather report.
The Northern Lights tonight at Souter Lighthouse, beautiful photography of the red aurora submitted by Steven Lomas pic.twitter.com/LGRx8rxk17
— Sunderland Global Media (SGM) (@Sunderland_GM) November 25, 2023
At least two or three of these spots have shown up every month since February. SpaceWeather describes the spots as “very bright” and “easily visible with the naked eye.” (RELATED: Elon Musk Vibing To Rufus Du Sol Is Required Viewing)
The rockets also punch holes as they return to Earth, and we have no idea what the short or long-term impacts this type of activity might create. All we presume is the rockets burst through the ionosphere and release fuel, causing ionized oxygen to turn back into regular gas molecules.
From here, the molecules get excited and release a red light, similar to when solar radiation causes auroras. And it doesn’t seem like they’ll be slowing down any time soon.