Stargazers in Quebec were captivated by a bright light in the sky on Tuesday night, coinciding with the Perseid meteor shower. The Astrolab du parc national du Mont-Mégantic described the phenomenon on Facebook as "a magnificent and luminous spiral streaking across the sky at around 10:40 p.m." Many observers in the Montreal area reported seeing the unusual light, which was surrounded by a fuzzy halo, leading some to speculate about a UFO sighting.

However, experts clarified that the sighting was likely the result of a rocket launch rather than an unidentified flying object. According to the Astrolab, the light was probably caused by the second stage of an Ariane 6 rocket igniting its engine to de-orbit after releasing the European satellite Metop-SGA1 into a polar orbit.

The European Space Agency confirmed that the satellite was launched at 9:37 p.m. local time from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This launch is intended to enhance weather and climate monitoring capabilities from polar orbit.

Astrophysicist Robert Lamontagne explained that the rocket's trajectory allowed it to be visible from Quebec. He noted that most rocket launches occur on an equatorial orbit, making them visible primarily near the equator. In this case, the polar orbit allowed the rocket to be seen from Montreal and southern Quebec.

Lamontagne added that several factors contributed to the visibility of the event, including the timing of the launch and the altitude of the rocket. "From our point of view, we were in the dark, the sun was low below the horizon, but the rocket itself was so high that it was still lit by the sun," he said.

As the second stage of the rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, it was spinning and releasing exhaust gases, which contributed to the spectacle seen in the sky. A spokesperson for the Canadian Space Agency confirmed that many observers captured video of the event, further verifying that it was indeed the ESA's Ariane 6 rocket.