U.F.O. sightings probably satellite rocket re-entry

Press, 6 September 1982, Page 1

U.F.O. sightings probably satellite rocket re-entry

Strange formations of lights which were spotted in the sky over several parts of New Zealand early last evening are thought to'have come from the fiery re-entry of part of a satellite launch rocket. More than 20 people phoned “The Press” between 6.50 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to report sightings ranging from green flashing lights to a silver pear-shaped vapour. A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Division said that he believed people had seen metal debris from the second stage of the launch vehicle of

a United States experimental satellite. The debris was estimated to land somewhere north of Auckland near Rarotonga, he said, and the department had sent warnings to airmen last week. Sightings of the debris were reported during the night from throughout the South Island. Napier, Wellington, Auckland, and Northland. The departmental spokesman said the debris was due to impact between 5.35 p.m. and 6.49 p.m. (New Zealand time) which coincided with

the New Zealand reports of the U.F.O.s. The president of the Canterbury Astronomical Society, Mr Clive Rowe, first saw the object as a bright dot on the south-western horizon at 6.47 p.m. He said that it developed a trailing tail then gave out a brilliant 20-second orange burst which left an orange speckled cloud as the object travelled north. As it passed overhead it split into several fainter components which travelled in formation and gradually diverged from the main object. Mr Rowe counted seven

objects. He estimated that they had travelled up the east coast of the South Island at a height of about 80km. The lights were in the sky for about 90 seconds, and he thought he heard a faint swish as they passed overhead. When a Waiau farmer first saw the light on the southern horizon, he thought it was a rocket going off. “A red ball came out from the top of it, then it split into white and red lights. It passed overhead in a diamond formation with two leading lights, followed by

six red. green, and white lights. There was absolutely no sound." Mrs Jean Carpenter, of Merivale. said she saw three bright stars in a triangle, with several minute stars following. “I thought I could hear a faint purring sound, like a motor. It was travelling faster than an aircraft and was in the sky for a couple of minutes. There were no flashing lights. It was most unusual." An air cadet at Wigram said he saw the lights for about five minutes.

“I first thought it was a high-flying jet. with a white light in front and glowing contrail behind. After a few seconds, the contrail spread out into a scattering of glowing lights. It got fainter as it went away, then I saw a red flash, which I presume was an explosion, as it shot out over the sea before it disappeared." Alan and Tui Coleman, of Springston, were travelling in their car near Burnham Camp when they noticed the lights. Mr Coleman said he saw eight widely spaced lights which let out a shower

of sparks like the trail of a comet. “When it passed overhead it seemed about the height of a jet, with a thin, white light coming off the back. It was travelling about the speed of an average aircraft." Gordon Lamb was walking along Stanmore Road when he noticed the lights above him. He described what he saw as two lights trailing a glimmering pear-shaped vapour. The vapour then disappeared and the two lights shot forward with several other lights in formation.

A Riccarton man saw a group of red and white lights travelling from south to north. "It was absolutely incredible. They appeared to split into an upside-down V formation. They were in the sky for 35 to 40 seconds." A Hoon Hay couple saw the lights pass in formation overhead, from their Sparks Road home. “The wife saw it burst out of a star and move out over the top of the house. It headed in a straight line true north. The leading light was bright."