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- Luke
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
We’re excited to share that AstroTours.org head astronomer Luke Huxley was recently featured on CBS News Colorado, helping viewers across the state solve a sudden celestial mystery that lit up the twilight sky.
On the evening of January 19th, Coloradans from Silverthorne to South Park to Cañon City looked up and noticed something unusual: a bright, glowing object drifting steadily across the horizon just after sunset. Videos quickly flooded social media, and speculation followed fast—everything from rare astronomical events to (jokingly) aliens.
CBS News Colorado turned to Luke Huxley to help explain what people were seeing.
Solving the Sky Mystery
In the segment, Luke explained that the glowing object was most likely a SpaceX rocket launch, visible over Colorado due to its extreme altitude and the timing of the launch during twilight. When rockets fly high above Earth while the ground below is already dark, they can remain illuminated by sunlight—creating that striking, almost otherworldly glow.
Luke pointed out several clues that helped identify the object:
Its west-to-east trajectory, typical of modern rocket launches that take advantage of Earth’s rotation
Its steady motion and brightness, unlike aircraft
The appearance of a plume or smoke ring, which can form as rockets pass through different layers of the atmosphere or briefly change flight dynamics
The launch, which carried Starlink satellites, aligned perfectly with what observers were seeing across the state.
“I think that’s what we’re all waiting for,” Luke joked when asked about alien speculation, “but yeah, I believe this to be the SpaceX rocket.”
Why Twilight Makes Rockets Glow
Luke also used the moment to share a favorite teaching point—twilight is one of the best times to spot rocket launches. Even after sunset, objects high above Earth can still catch sunlight, creating dramatic visuals that feel almost magical to those watching from the ground.
It’s a perfect example of how space science often feels mysterious at first glance—but becomes even more fascinating once you understand what’s really happening.
Bringing Astronomy to Everyday Moments
Being featured on CBS News Colorado is a reminder of why we do what we do at AstroTours. Astronomy isn’t just something that happens in observatories or textbooks—it shows up unexpectedly while you’re walking outside, driving home, or scrolling through social media wondering, “What is that?”
We love helping people make sense of those moments, turning curiosity into understanding and wonder.
You can read the full CBS News Colorado article here:👉 Coloradans watch mysterious object in the sky, most likely related to SpaceX launchhttps://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/coloradans-mysterious-object-sky-spacex-launch/
Thank you to CBS News Colorado for inviting Luke to share his expertise, and to everyone across Colorado who took a moment to look up.
Clear skies always,— The AstroTours.org Team
Want to learn how to spot rockets, planets, satellites, and deep-sky objects for yourself? Join us on a guided astronomy tour under Colorado’s incredible night skies. 🌌
