Advertisement

Lights in Australian sky believed to be from Russian rocket

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Australian Space Agency said bright lights in the night sky over the southeastern part of the country were most likely the remains of a Russian rocket.

Reports came in overnight of lights streaking across the sky in Victoria and Tasmania, and the Australian Space Agency said the lights were not believed to have been caused by meteors.

Advertisement

"The flashes of light seen across Melbourne skies overnight were likely the remnants of a Russian Soyuz-2 rocket re-entering the Earth's atmosphere," the agency said on social media.

"Launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket occurred from Plesetsk Cosmodrome earlier in the evening. According to Russian authorities the launch placed a new generation 'GLONASS-K2' global navigation satellite into orbit," the post said.

The agency said it was informed by Russian authorities that remnants of the rocket were projected to re-enter the atmosphere off the Tasmanian coast.

"We will continue to monitor the outcomes of this re-entry with our government partners," the post said.

Latest Headlines