Flash dazzles thousands in New Zealand skies #meteor #comet #tohu #flash
2 min read
Social media erupted tonight as thousands of New Zealanders up and down the North Island were dazzled by a bright flash of light followed by a booming sound. Different viewers reported seeing a variety of colours, in particularblue and green.
Some speculated that it was a comet, others that it was a meteorite.
Reports have come from social mediaas far south as Wellington and as far north as Auckland. The light was seen in Rotorua around 10pm tonight.
Pets also responded to the noice with one woman tweeting:
@WeatherWatchNZ would love to know more about that series of flashes and booms. Our dog went crazy
Marilyn Baldwin (@marilyn_baldwin) February 11, 2015
The Stuff are reporting that theMetService said a yellow streak visible on its weather map was “definitely not lightning, most likely a #meteor”. TV presenter John Campbell was witnessed it, tweeting:
Something fast and bright just briefly illuminated the sky west of Auckland. Zipped across the blackness. Extraordinary. John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) February 11, 2015
#Meteor Flash of blue light that I at first took for lightning spotted NorEastern sky over Upper Hutt. Strange on a clear starry night. Marie McNicholas (@MarieMcNicholas) February 11, 2015
Interest in the phenomnon saw traffic to websites such as WeatherWatch.co.nz to explode.
Um, so sorry, so many people going to our site it’s overloaded! Flash of light & sonic booms seen/heard across many regions.
WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 11, 2015
Others saw the light as a tohu with Vanessa Kururangi saying the lightsignaled theaccent of Papa Api Mahuika and Tama Huata to the next realm.
#meteor #sky #Auckland #NZ #blue #flash pic.twitter.com/SfHpixOsAC
Joe Kettlety (@kettletyj) February 11, 2015
Okay, i wasnt going mad. Seems half the country saw that bright sudden flash of light. #meteor #tauranga Wayne Cockburn (@motophotonz) February 11, 2015