Glowing 'Space Jellyfish’ Seen in Australia [Image Source: Getty Images]
Australians throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales were left bewildered on July 30 when glowing objects illuminated the night sky. Many believed they had seen a UFO sighting. 'Space jellyfish' videos dominated social media. Some witnessed three bright spheres. Others saw a gigantic hovering spaceship.
But what was otherworldly and all too terrestrial—these glowing forms were from a Chinese Long March 8A rocket launch. While scientists dispelled theories of extraterrestrial origins, the event created new worries about global rocket activity and public consciousness.
The floating lights first materialised on Thursday evening. Within minutes, Australians were posting videos and speculating on the Internet. Some said the lights were UFOs. Some speculated they were asteroids or space junk.
One woman told Channel 7News, "The one my brother saw woke him up because it was so bright." Across Queensland to northern NSW, the sightings caused panic and intrigue in equal measure.
Australian National University astrophysicist Dr. Brad Tucker soon provided insight. He recognised the lights as a rocket plume from a Chinese Long March 8A rocket.
The rocket had taken off from Hainan, China, at 5:49 PM Australian time on Wednesday. The timing was coincidental with the East Coast sightings.
Prof. Jonti Horner also verified the correlation between sightings and the trajectory of the rocket launch. These rockets belong to China's satellite deployment program for its state-owned internet network.
The luminous forms, according to Dr. Tucker, were caused by gas emitted at the separation of the rocket's stages. This gas produces unusual structures high up in the atmosphere. The effect is an optical display in the form of a 'space jellyfish'—shining, tentacled lights moving slowly across the sky.
"They appeared close," Dr. Tucker said, "but were hundreds of kilometres off the coast and dozens of kilometres high."
"It's sort of like peeling out in a car—the dust plume just hangs there behind it," he added.Eventually, the gas dissipates. But in the right light, it seems to remain motionless and glow, confusing people on the ground.
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Should the Public Be Notified in Advance?
As the scientific explanation demystified alien hypotheses, the event also raised a critical concern, which is public awareness. If an extraterrestrial rocket launch from a foreign nation can trigger mass hysteria in Australian airspace, should citizens be warned?
Experts maintain that such disclosure would prevent unwarranted fears. Dr. Tucker's on-the-spot confirmation eased jitters, but after rampant speculations.
With the growing number of global rocket launches, improved communication could be the next frontier to ensuring the skies remain safe and citizens are educated.