Queensland skies light up as Chinese space junk burns in atmosphere

Feb 26, 2021 3:07 PM PHT

Reuters

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Queensland skies light up as Chinese space junk burns in atmosphere

Space junk is seen falling over the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, February 25, 2021, in this still image taken from video obtained from social media. Video taken February 25, 2021. Mandatory credit JACK ROBINS/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

photo by JACK ROBINS/via REUTERS

"I thought it was a meteorite at first, but later as it split, my mate and I began thinking it was space junk," says one social media post

Social media in Queensland, Australia lit up on Thursday night, February 25, matching the flashing night sky as users posted short videos of what experts later said was debris from a Chinese rocket burning up as it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

“I thought it was a meteorite at first, but later as it split, my mate and I began thinking it was space junk,” said Jasper Nash, who filmed one of the videos circulating on social media. “It was very fascinating.”

Professor Jonti Horner of the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Astrophysics said the light show came from the re-entry of a Chinese rocket launched in November 2019, carrying a satellite into orbit.

Others with less expert knowledge were at first spooked by the display.

“I initially thought it was something other than space debris,” said Jack Robins, another observer who took to social media to post video. “To be honest I freaked out for a second until I realized.” – Rappler.com