Chinese rocket was source of sky flashes in the US, experts confirm

Bright flashes of light observed in the western US this week, initially believed by some to have been caused by an unidentified flying object (possibly of alien origin) sadly has more mundane and Earth-based origins, according to KNTV News and the Los Angeles Times.

The streaks were observed in Nevada, California and elsewhere, and several individuals caught photos and videos of the event, many of which can be viewed at The Huffington Post. However, if they were hoping to have a record confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life, they’re out of luck, as officials have confirmed that the lights were caused by a Chinese rocket.

Following initial word from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas that the streaks resulted from a meteor that was burning up in the atmosphere, a spokesperson from the US Strategic Command later confirmed to the media that the phenomenon was caused by the remains of a Chinese-made Chang Zheng-7 rocket re-entering the atmosphere sometime around 9:36 pm Pacific time.

That individual, Lt. Colonel Martin L. O’Donnell, told the Times that the rocket was among the 16,000 man-made objects orbiting the planet which were being tracked by officials at the Joint Space Operations Center. The majority of those objects, he added, typically burn up in the sky during re-entry or land over water, and the CZ-7 posed no threat to people on the ground.

Jonathan McDowell, an researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, told the newspaper that the CZ-7 rocket had launched on June 25 and spent a month in low orbit before returning to Earth. It was likely traveling at a velocity of about 18,000 mph at the time, he added, creating a trail of light nearly 50 miles overhead.

Stargazers still have a chance to see fireballs from the Delta Aquarids

Prior to confirmation that the CZ-7 was the cause, Dr. Ed Krupp of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles told KABC-TV that the streaks may have been caused by a meteor from the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower, which had reached peak viewing conditions on Wednesday night.

As redOrbit’s own John Hopton reported on Monday, the ongoing Delta Aquarids peaked on July 28 and 29, with up to 20 meteors per hour visible during prime viewing conditions. Those living in the Southern Hemisphere have and will continue to receive the best view, but those in the north will also have plenty of chances to witness the annual event.

While it’s too late to see the CZ-7 burn up upon re-entry, catching a glimpse at a quality meteor shower is not a bad consolation prize. To do so, head out to an area that is free of light pollution between midnight and dawn (between 2 and 3am) and look towards the southern part of the sky. Alternatively, you can also watch the shower online courtesy of the folks at Slooh.com.

As for those who did manage to catch a glimpse at the rocket’s re-entry, former SpaceX engineer turned photographer Ian Norman told The Press-Democrat that it was “a cool experience… it was beautiful to see it going across the sky.” Likewise, Brigham Young University student Matt Holt said that he was “excited” to see it. “I was in awe at the science of space.”

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