Mystery lights over Norway baffle residents

Spectacular display turns out to be a failed Russian submarine missile.

By

Thu, Dec 10 2009 at 8:54 AM

CURIOUS LIGHTS: An odd light phenomenon can be seen over a military base in Skjold in northern Norway on Dec. 9. (Photo: ZUMA Press)

Residents of Norway were treated to an incredible lightshow early Wednesday morning, prompting many to blame UFOs for the strange phenomena. The event reportedly lasted for several minutes and appeared to be something akin to a spiraling galaxy with an ethereal blue tail trailing off back towards the horizon.

Early blame — at least from those not preparing for an alien invasion — pointed toward a failed Russian missile test, but representatives for the military there were mute on the topic just long enough for conspiracy theories to surface. Some said it was a dimension to another world, while others thought a black hole might be opening above the Earth.

Thankfully, the Russian daily newspaper Vedomosti finally resolved the mystery by reporting that a new Russian submarine-based intercontinental missile had suffered failure in its third stage. The paper quoted an unnamed source from the military, which still isn't officially speaking about the incident. From the NY Times,

The Bulava intercontinental missile has been billed as Russia's newest technological breakthrough to support its nuclear deterrent, but the repeated test failures are an embarrassment for the Kremlin.

The 37-tonne, 12-metre (39-foot) intercontinental ballistic missile, known as the Bulava-30 inside the Russian military, is capable of carrying multiple warheads to the distances of up to 8,000 km (5,000 miles). Some sources say the Bulava can carry up to six warheads, others say up to 10.

With this latest failed test, analysts believe the Bulava missile is a doomed program that should be scrapped. That, or Russia could make a mint selling the technology for lightshows around the world.

For more pictures of the Norway event, click here.

You might also like:

Join the conversation

Comments: 18

Peter Grant Dec 29 2009 at 4:27 PM

Is the third stage the warhead?
Is this blue light Cherenkov radiation from scattered warhead material undergoing fission?

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Kelly Dec 11 2009 at 12:28 PM

in 1978 los angeles county we saw this however there was no internet and the news did not report. so how is it that same technology is being tested wouldnt things be different by now. I'm not buying the story

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Danny Dec 11 2009 at 11:52 AM

Look back to the Challenger disaster and remeber what the rocket boosters looked like when they dislodged from the main tank...They were all over the place!!! How is it that on a clear night with unimpeded visibility, there was no smoke, rocket, or even a thruster flame? And then explain the perfect spiral that just seemed to evaporate out of thin air. Who are the idiots (supposed experts) that are telling the news agencies that it looked like an out of control rocket! Maybe they should ask if there

.... More

was a Rave party going on and a laser malfunctioned. Natural phoenomena or military test sound more feasible to me.

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

#7161 Dec 11 2009 at 6:42 AM

I apologize for causing such consternation, but my ship suffered some sort of failure in the Endarium Calcite core, and resulted in me breaking the "no show" policy; I've already been fined 60,000 credits for causing this panic - and I've been escorted off your star system already. Still, the food you call "pizza" is considered a delicacy in this arm of the galaxy and all I wanted to was to sample one. Again, I am truly sorry if anyone thought you were going to get invaded. We are a peaceful race,

.... More

and we hope for the day when your kind and ours no longer view each other as "curios", but as comrades-in-arms.

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

et trapped here Jan 26 2010 at 9:08 PM

How do you know about the Endarium Calcite core ?

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

MPD Dec 11 2009 at 5:59 AM

My best guess would be its a combination engine of an mpd (half magnetic and gas engine) with rocket technology to get into the atmosphere where there is vacumm for the magnetic and gas part to start and the engine fired prematurely and set off the gas and magnetic colors in the air

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

MPD Dec 11 2009 at 6:13 AM

The president of russia announced last month that they are trying to get funding for their deep space (space ship) with the same kind of technology but for human cargo.

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Human Lateralus Dec 11 2009 at 1:00 AM

ok if it realy is a rocket where is the fuselage? moreover i dont see a rocket in the picture even when i zoom in on the hi rez ones, if thats really a rocket we should see it at the center of the spiral.

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

crazy man stand... Dec 11 2009 at 12:57 AM

i agree with the first guy that commented. this is not a missile, first off the report says "he 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 center — lasting for ten to twelve minutes before disappearing completely" MISSILES DONT DO THAT! NOT EVEN FAILED ONES! THE SPIRAL, IF YOU WILL TAKE A CLOSE

.... More

LOOK, IS A PERFECT FIBONACCI !!! rockets dont do that! moreover a beam of light shot out from the center as the spiral was still present? that is not a rocket if it was a rocket there would not have been a beam of light it would have just been a spiraling lightshow. take a baloon and fill it up with air then let it go, does it just sit in one place and spiral around? HELL NO it goes everywhere. SAME DAMN THING GOES FOR AN UNGUIDED MALFUNCTIONING ROCKET. OPEN YOUR EYES DAMNIT WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY IS AND WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ALL SEEN IT BEFORE AND WE WILL ALL SEE IT AGAIN YOU HAVE ALL SEEN THIS KIND OF THING IN YOUR DREAMS AND YOU KNOW IT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so speaks the crazy man standing in the corner with an internet connection!

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Bright1 Dec 10 2009 at 7:34 PM

Why are we being duped by this? A missle test gone wrong? Oh yeah and my father is the Pope! C'mon this is a real phenomena that appeared in the sky.People wake up why are sum of you so gulible to accept otherwise.It is nature at it's best and the signs of wonders to come.Welcome to the Golden Age!!

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

me Dec 10 2009 at 7:07 PM

wow, that is creepy. i think it is a ufo

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

kendehl ballard Dec 10 2009 at 5:07 PM

i think it a ghost or a ufo

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Momof2children Dec 10 2009 at 4:01 PM

..not to be a conspiracy candidate but its' very convenient to have the Soviets be at fault...and they're nototrious for not confirming items...

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Kjersti Dec 10 2009 at 1:14 PM

See more pictures of the phenomenon at http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.6902392

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

uzair Dec 10 2009 at 12:44 PM

is my question
(1)Q)Is create problem create or daily life or not plz more comment now plz plz

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Sam Hall Dec 10 2009 at 1:26 PM

Yes.

Log in or register to post comments
Report This Post

Brad Dec 10 2009 at 12:35 PM

Sorry but I don't see the correlation between a missile launch and a light shining into the sky... Is anybody else wondering why they would shine lights into the sky in a spiral pattern? Why isn't this question addressed by anybody am I the only one wondering? :)