‘Meteor’ most likely re-entry of Chinese rocket – expert
[VIDEO] The ball of light lit up the sky on Tuesday evening at around 18:20 and was visible across South Africa and even as far a field as Zimbabwe and Botswana.
POLOKWANE – According to unconfirmed reports, a ‘meteor’ sighting on Tuesday evening has now been said to be the reentry of the Chinese Yuanzheng-1S rocket.
The ball of light lit up the sky on Tuesday evening at around 18:20 and was visible across South Africa and even as far a field as Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Daniel Cunnama, Science Engagement Astronomer at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) said in a tweet this morning that the sighting was ‘most likely’ the upper stage of the Chinese Yuanzheng-1S rocket being deorbited.
Update on the "meteor", it looks like it was most likely the upper stage of the Chinese Yuanzheng-1S rocket being deorbited.
Apologies for the incorrect assumption and thanks to @planet4589 for solving the puzzle! https://t.co/YQdNJk16pq
— Dr Daniel Cunnama (@DanielCunnama) August 25, 2021
🔴 BREAKING: Tuesday evening’s ‘meteor’ over parts of Southern Africa now believed to be re-entry of Chinese Yuanzheng-1S 🚀, with number of SA groups agreeing with astronomer Jonathan McDowell’s theory. US military data shows 🇨🇳 launched 2 internet demo 🛰 & 1 unknown payload.
— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) August 25, 2021
Residents who witnessed the sighting said the ball appeared out of no where and shot across the sky leaving a trail of fiery debris.
A resident sent the footage to Review.
WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
People took to social media to share their experience.
https://www.facebook.com/lynnette.maritz.1/videos/379250606922416/
Just seen multiple red/orange/yellow objects streaking (relatively slowly) in a westerly direction all the way across the sky in Magoebaskloof, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Meteorites? Satellite burning up on re-entry? @NASA @Radio702 @ewnbreaking @RoyalAstroSoc
— Adam Wilkinson (@drexxel761) August 24, 2021
Crazy meteor shower over Pretoria a moment ago.
Captured by @supercarsofsa in Waterkloof 👀 pic.twitter.com/zip6WxnVQv
— Zero2Turbo (@Zero2Turbo) August 24, 2021
What looks like a meteor just fell over Bulawayo, Zimbabwe ☄️ https://t.co/03zDeZgoGP pic.twitter.com/zVRuFgPHFi
— Where'sTheAlbum??? (@KingBillius) August 24, 2021
A massive meteor-like object just passed over Pretoria. Holy shit.
Just took this footage from my house.
Never seen anything like it. pic.twitter.com/JFHd3qkOac
— Conscious Caracal 🇿🇦 (@ConCaracal) August 24, 2021
🔴 BREAKING: #Meteor spotted over Pretoria a short while ago | 📸 C Fourie pic.twitter.com/TBZTFcPsUw
— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) August 24, 2021
HOW INSANE? A METEOR SHOW IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SKY THIS EVENING 😻 pic.twitter.com/ftCc0CQ1kG
— a pitbull named (@kendy_gabriella) August 24, 2021
This is a developing story.
