A mysterious light phenomenon lit up the sky in northern Sweden during the night to Friday, prompting multiple calls to police and official investigations that point to a Russian rocket launch. The event, witnessed from Sweden to Finland, has sparked public alarm and conflicting theories about its origin.
Police received several calls about the light phenomenon starting at 01:20, and their own patrols in Umeå also witnessed it. According to police, the most likely explanation is a rocket launch outside Sweden's borders. The phenomenon could also be seen from Finland, and the country's police report that it was a Russian space rocket that posed no danger to the public. According to Russian media, Russia launched a space rocket during the night on behalf of the defense ministry from the Plesetsk space base in northwestern Russia. Eric Stempels, a space researcher at Uppsala University, stated that the light came from a Russian rocket, lending scientific weight to the official explanation.
The light was very strong.
Witnesses described an unusual and intense display. According to Sveriges Radio Nyheter, Tomas Nyberg, a police commander at Police Region North, described the light as very strong. According to Expressen, Casey Causevic, an RLC commander, described the phenomenon moving across the sky, with police patrols experiencing it almost like headlights shining down on the ground. According to Aftonbladet, Melina Westermark, 23, in Örnsköldsvik, described seeing several dots in a row, initially thinking it was Russians about to bomb. She further described it as like seventeen stars in a row moving sideways and disappearing after 15-20 seconds.
The sighting had a broad geographic spread, with the dots in the sky seen by readers in places like Skellefteå and ski resorts Kittelfjäll and Hemavan. However, the exact cause remains uncertain, as in previous reports of strange pearl bands of glowing dots in the sky, it has turned out to be SpaceX satellites. Adding to the confusion, an unusual light phenomenon was seen over Luleå around 23:00 on Wednesday evening, involving a longer pearl band of light diodes moving across the sky.
The phenomenon moved across the sky, and police patrols experienced it almost like headlights shining down on the ground.
The event occurs against a backdrop of recent aurora activity across Sweden. It is not the first time this year that auroras have been seen in the southern parts of the country. In January, an unusually strong solar storm broke out, making auroras visible over almost the entire country. According to Svenska Dagbladet, Lasse Rydqvist described it as unusual for auroras to come so far down with such a dramatic spectacle. The sky offered a beautiful spectacle again, with auroras seen over Östergötland between Friday and Saturday night. The night to Saturday showed the sky in aurora dress over Uppsala, and auroras were also seen over Sjuhärad on Friday evening.
In unrelated U.S. news, ICE chief Todd Lyons will leave his job at the end of May, according to U.S. authorities. Lyons submitted his resignation to the new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin on Thursday. Lyons, appointed deputy chief of ICE by Donald Trump in March 2025, has been a key ally in his tough immigration policy. According to U.S. media, Lyons has been responsible for about half a million deportations carried out by ICE since last year. Hard criticism has been directed at Lyons due to the methods used by ICE, and who will take over after him is unclear.
Melina Westermark, 23, in Örnsköldsvik, saw several dots in a row, initially thinking it was Russians about to bomb.
In Norrköping, Sweden, there was a fire in a business premises on Thursday evening. Police have initiated a preliminary investigation into arson, and no one has been arrested. According to Expressen, Torbjörn Lindqvist described the fire as still burning when police arrived, but the rescue service managed to extinguish it shortly after. There is no information that anyone was injured.
Internationally, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began on Thursday evening, but shortly after it took effect, the Lebanese military accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. The Lebanese military reported that attacks on smaller towns in southern Lebanon occurred. The army advised waiting to return to the southern villages and towns due to a number of violations of the agreement.
Melina Westermark described it as like seventeen stars in a row moving sideways and disappearing after 15-20 seconds.
In legal news, a Swedish man has been indicted in a U.S. court, suspected of stealing nearly 35 million kronor from the Swedish Church in New York. The suspected thefts, totaling more than 3.8 million dollars, have according to the prosecutor been ongoing over a six-year period. The man, who worked as a baker in the church's café and served on its board, is alleged to have used his position to open accounts in the church's name that he then controlled himself. According to the investigation, the man used the money for among other things food, bills, and failed business projects, and he denies the accusations. The church states that it has a stable economy.
Shifting focus to tourism, Abisko is one of the very best places in the world to experience the northern lights. The best chances of seeing the northern lights are from mid-November to mid-March. Abisko is often referred to as 'the blue hole' because it frequently enjoys clear skies when surrounding areas are cloudy. It offers a wide range of winter activities such as skiing, ice climbing, and snowshoeing. STF Abisko Tourist Station provides accommodation with views of the northern lights and the Abisko Alps, while STF Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja is a viewpoint for experiencing the northern lights, accessible by chairlift.
It is unusual for auroras to come so far down with such a dramatic spectacle.
Scientifically, the northern lights are the result of the interaction between solar winds and Earth's magnetic fields. They appear when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, producing visible light. The best time to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland is between September and March, with the ideal time of day between 9 pm and 2 am. If you stay in Abisko for three days, you have an 88% chance of seeing the northern lights as long as the sky is clear. The best chances of witnessing the northern lights are when you are north of the Arctic Circle, at high altitude, and in a location free from light pollution. To increase chances of spotting the Northern Lights, it's important to avoid light pollution.
For practical aurora hunting, best places to see the Northern Lights in Småland include Bolmen, Vättern, Isaberg, and the Öland coast. Equipment to bring includes warm clothing, a flashlight with red light, a camera with tripod, hot drinks, snacks, and a star chart or app. A guideline is to look for the green glow of the Northern Lights by gazing towards the north. Seeing the Northern Lights in Småland is not guaranteed but possible if conditions are right. Northern lights tours are available in Sweden, including dogsled, minivan, and snowmobile expeditions in Kiruna and Abisko. Sweden offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the Northern Lights, with places like Abisko and Jukkasjärvi providing prime viewing conditions.
The fire was still burning when police arrived, but the rescue service managed to extinguish it shortly after.