Astronomers believe an “otherworldly” light seen in the sky on Friday night is linked to a Chinese rocket launch hours earlier.<\/p>\n
T\u016bhura Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin said the striking phenomenon appeared about 30 minutes after a rocket reportedly lifted off from China.<\/p>\n
”As I understand it, there was a launch at about half past six our time,” Griffin said.<\/p>\n
”Roughly half an hour later, the rocket was passing over New Zealand when there was likely a stage separation or firing of rocket jets, and it became incredibly bright in the sky.”<\/p>\n
Griffin said the launch of a Long March-2D rocket carrying experimental satellites reportedly took place from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center earlier that afternoon Beijing time.<\/p>\n
Reports and images of a glowing cloud moving across the sky quickly surfaced on social media, with sightings spanning much of the country.<\/p>\n
Griffin, who observed the event from Middlemarch near Dunedin, described it as ”a very bright cloud” that slowly expanded as it travelled.<\/p>\n
He said the cloud was initially intense and was likely reflecting sunlight at high altitude.<\/p>\n
Griffin said that as the rocket climbed further into orbit, the plume spread out and formed a distinctive spiral shape, which he said was a hallmark of rocket exhaust dispersing in the upper atmosphere.<\/p>\n
”It really did look otherworldly,” Griffin said.<\/p>\n
”It’s not something you ever see in the natural night sky – a glowing cloud that grows and shifts shape as you watch. I can understand why people found it a bit unsettling.”<\/p>\n
Griffin said such displays, while uncommon, were not unprecedented.<\/p>\n
He said similar effects have been observed following launches from New Zealand’s own Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex, as well as missions by SpaceX in the United States.<\/p>\n
Despite its unusual appearance, Griffin said there was no danger.<\/p>\n
”The rocket is hundreds of kilometres above us by the time this happens,” he said.<\/p>\n
”What you’re seeing is sunlight reflecting off gases released during the launch. It’s completely harmless – just visually stunning.”<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Defence Force has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n