The Norway Spiral
One winter morning, a glowing spiral appeared over northern Norway, with a blue beam shooting from its centre.
What was reported
Early on 9 December 2009, people across northern Norway saw a strange light in the sky: a spinning white spiral, with a blue-green beam shooting out of its centre, which grew and then collapsed into a black hole-like shape.
Photographs and videos spread around the world within hours, along with theories ranging from a wormhole to a secret experiment.
Explanations offered
The next day, Russia confirmed that a Bulava missile, test-fired from a submarine in the White Sea, had failed. The spiral was the rocket spinning out of control, its exhaust lit by the sun high in the sky.
- When
- 9 December 2009
- Where
- Northern Norway
- Witnesses
- Thousands across northern Norway
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.