'Fireballs in Sky' Likely Chinese Lanterns
- 11 years ago
Sighted 'fireballs' are likely Chinese lanterns.
Strange sightings in the sky are frequently reported by local citizens.
During the start of the Chinese New Year, a group of friends in Wanuiomata, New Zealand noticed what they described as “two bright orange fireballs.”
One of the witnesses, Michelle Turner stated “They were travelling at the same speed, then they turned at the same time in another direction and one looked like it disappeared, then came back, then disappeared again.”
The change in direction led an Observatory astronomer to believe that the unknown flying objects were not meteors or fireballs, but Chinese lanterns. Then there was the timing of the incident - which coincided with the Chinese New Year festivities.
Each year, hundreds of sightings are reported pertaining to fireballs or UFOs.
Fireballs travel at a much greater speeds than the lanterns, which take several minutes to disappear. Fireballs fade after a few seconds while lanterns remain bright and often contain a flickering light due to a candle housed inside.
Strange sightings in the sky are frequently reported by local citizens.
During the start of the Chinese New Year, a group of friends in Wanuiomata, New Zealand noticed what they described as “two bright orange fireballs.”
One of the witnesses, Michelle Turner stated “They were travelling at the same speed, then they turned at the same time in another direction and one looked like it disappeared, then came back, then disappeared again.”
The change in direction led an Observatory astronomer to believe that the unknown flying objects were not meteors or fireballs, but Chinese lanterns. Then there was the timing of the incident - which coincided with the Chinese New Year festivities.
Each year, hundreds of sightings are reported pertaining to fireballs or UFOs.
Fireballs travel at a much greater speeds than the lanterns, which take several minutes to disappear. Fireballs fade after a few seconds while lanterns remain bright and often contain a flickering light due to a candle housed inside.