Luminous Phenomenon over La Reunion 2017

Summary

During an astrophotography session at the Piton de la Fournaise, a witness captured an unusual luminous phenomenon. The observer described a meteor-like streak that transformed into a bright white cone of light, ending in a spherical cloud that took several minutes to fade. The photographic evidence confirmed an easterly trajectory descending toward the horizon, matching the Falcon 9 rocket launch from the previous day.

The most plausible explanation points to gas venting during the rocket's passivation phase, visible from La Reunion due to sunlight and altitude. This phenomenon, while unusual, is not unknown and has been observed in previous launches. The GEIPAN classified the case as "rocket" due to its alignment with a documented event.