Strange Lights Called Cosmic Fireball
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Strange lights seen over New Zealand on Thursday night may have been caused by a cosmic fireball, a scientist said Saturday.
People from as far south as the South Island town of Oamaru reported seeing a circular, bright object, variously described as ranging from red, white to blue in color, moving fast from east to west late Thursday.
Carter Observatory scientific officer Graham Blow said a cosmic fireball--bigger and brighter than normal meteors--is the most likely explanation.
“The descriptions I have heard so far make it pretty conclusive that it was a fireball,” he said.
Sue Morgan told reporters the object moved at about the same speed as an aircraft.
“We could almost touch it. I felt really excited,” Morgan said.
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