Griffin said the launch of a Long March-2D rocket carrying experimental satellites reportedly took place from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre 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 \u201ca very bright cloud\u201d 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
\u201cIt really did look otherworldly,\u201d Griffin said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not something you ever see in the natural night sky \u2013 a glowing cloud that grows and shifts shape as you watch. I can understand why people found it a bit unsettling.\u201d <\/p>\n
Griffin said such displays, while uncommon, were not unprecedented. <\/p>\n
He said similar effects have been observed after launches from New Zealand\u2019s 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
\u201cThe rocket is hundreds of kilometres above us by the time this happens,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you\u2019re seeing is sunlight reflecting off gases released during the launch. It\u2019s completely harmless \u2013 just visually stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Defence Force has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n