An American company's satellites triggered a flurry of excitement on local social media last night.
People reported seeing strange lights in the sky but an Auckland astronomer says the explanation is relatively mundane.
Grant Christie, of the Stardome Observatory, says sunlight was being reflected from hundreds of satellites being launched to deliver broadband internet.
Line of lights in the sky over New Zealand. Satellites? pic.twitter.com/IhzzQGk5tz
— Tomás García Ferrari (@tomasgf) February 1, 2020
He says the number and brightness of satellites launched by companies such as SpaceX and OneWeb is becoming a problem for some astronomers.
SpaceX has so far launched 240 satellites as part of what it says will be 12,000 orbiting earth.
Did anyone else see that weird straight line of lights above whangarei #ufo #newzealand
— Renju Cherian (@Renjuc) February 1, 2020
Just saw a bunch of lights over Feilding, New Zealand.
— Its Lachie NZ (@ItsLachieNZ) February 1, 2020
About 50-60 of them, initially in a cluster, separated into a straight line going from west to east.
In the video, you can see a couple of them. This was nearing the end of it. pic.twitter.com/VN2DmJZP4g
Those who spotted the lights posted their reactions on social media.
One person said "Line of lights in the sky over New Zealand. Satellites?"
"Did anyone else see that weird straight line of lights above whangarei," said another.
