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Video shows 'mysterious' whirlpool spiral flying over Hawaii sky

A strange spiral was caught on video earlier this month as it soared over Maunakea, Hawaii, and a telescope operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

A strange spiral was caught on video over Hawaii on Jan. 18. 

The official Twitter account of the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea, an optical-infrared telescope operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, guessed what the source of the phenomenon might be. 

"On Jan 18, 2023 (HST), the Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawaii," it wrote. "The spiral seems to be related to the SpaceX company's launch of a new satellite."

A caption alongside the footage said SpaceX had launched a new satellite earlier in the day. 

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The video showed the blueish spiral passing over the Big Island telescope.

Space.com said earlier this month that this is far from the first time a similar feature was spotted after a SpaceX launch, with reports as far as New Zealand.

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