Strange Light Effect over HK

[lepremier]

Anyone notice a strange light effect in the sky over Hong Kong/S. China last night? On the way up to Beijing and just passing over Hong Kong when we noticed quite a bright diffused sort of white light appear, a bit like the moon coming out from behind the clouds, except no moon and no high clouds. It got brighter before changing into a misty sort of trail behind a white point of light. The trail also reminded me a bit of a shock wave behind a high speed object. I would say very high altitude traveling from west to east at 1215 utc ( 2000 HK time). I don’t think it was re-entry debris as there was no burn up and it seemed to be at a constant, very high level. Maybe a comet but the very sharp point of white light at the front seemed to rule that out.
Any ideas guys….?

[CV Donator]

I saw it also, captured it on camera . Thought I was being called up into the heavens....

[Fenwicksgirl]

Yep got a good look at it. I too thought a fireball was heading my way!!
Closer examination though, it appeared to be a very bright and powerfull laser(?) light coming out of Macau!! I think the clouds in the area gave it that extra special shock wave effect.

[lepremier]

I don't think it was a laser as we tracked the "object" after the initial light show for about two minutes. Could have been a satellite just caught by the sun's rays?? Will have a look on "Heavens Above" to see what's around at the moment.

[Kane Toed]

CV can you post the picture please?

[Fenwicksgirl]

Well we noticed a "ray" similar to a spotlight coming from Macau. I must admit though, it looked weird!!

[CV Donator]

Sure,however, I'm not sure how to transfer the image from my mobile phone. I need to get with the modern age.

[MinimaNoContact]

Mobile phone eh.... mustve been in flight mode, surely! :}

[CV Donator]

Taken from the heart of the Brush Stroke barracks fella:}

[CV Donator]

www.msnusers.com/my%20web%20documents/documents/pictures

[Kane Toed]

where there is dots there should be letters me thinks... Looks like a 'snipped URL' (which doesn't mean that it can't have little url's)

[CV Donator]

www.msnusers.com/my%20web%20documents/documents/pictures. Now I'm off for a pint.

[sleepercell]

So glad others saw it to.

We were at FL380 at about 2000 LT, tracking Kadlo to Elato and it passed down our right hand side. Very high and very fast, I would guess it was well up in the Stratosphere and doing Mach 3+.

At first we thought it was a full moon coming through the clouds as we flew towards the setting sun......but there where no clouds, just a fireball.

As it got closer it reminded me of when I saw Hayleys comet in the mid 90's. It glowed, was holding a constant trajectory and appeared to have a 'tail'.

As it passed abeam us the setting sun reflected off whatever it was and the sunlight was refracting through two really powerfull shockwaves....looked like a perfect V.

There was a secondry glow directly behind the object creating the shockwaves, in hindsight I think it was refraction through a strong contrail.

It then disappeared into the night over Taiwan.

I've had a good think about it, it was in the Earths atomsphere as it was creating a powerfull shockwave.......so therefore couldn't have been a satelite.

The only craft that would have the same sort of effect on the atomsphere would be a re-entering space shuttle, (this thing was maintaining level flight however)......the space shuttle was on the ground and I believe it re-enters the atomsphere as it nears the west coast of the US anyway.

So I don't know......need some help here.

I would guess the SR-71 going balls to the wall would have looked something like what we saw......but that has been retired for years.

Definitely NOT a laser from Macau:D

[womble006]

didnt the Chinese fire a rocket about this time?

[BAMRA wake up]

Can't get into the photos either, but going on the description I'd put my money on a meteor, or space debris.

There's a well known piece of film from, I think, the early 70's of a large meteor which grazed the atmosphere and was easily visible in daylight.

[Glass Half Empty]

Perhaps it is Aurora on a quick flight

[sleepercell]

That would explain it, from what I saw this thing was in controlled flight.

Didn't they can the Aurora program in the early 90's because it cost 1 billion USD each time it took off?

Before you ask....no it wasn't a martian flying saucer :ok:

[AAIGUY]

I can't imagine the American retired the SR71 without a replacement. I mean have they not managed to build ANYTHING since the 60's/70's??
Too secret to let out.
Can we please have the photos!!!

[FlexibleResponse]

Just imagine, a very high speed manned vehicle operating on the fringe of the atmosphere...Now wouldn't that be a national asset!

[Chilli Tarts]

Still waiting patiently for a photo? anyone?
:hmm:

[HotDog]

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m246/adamtakach/norwoodsmall.jpg

[Kim-Sharman]

For what it's worth, this would not be the first time something like this has happened. I was just past Elato inbound at night in a L1011 when ATC began diverting aircraft left right and centre! Turned out it was a couple of Russian Bears blundering along the centre of the airway, presumably from Vietnam to Vladivostok. Cold war days!

[LapSap]

Still happens- normally the Yanks though. If you're lucky enough to get a response its usually something like "US military aircraft operating in International waters with due regard -out". :yuk:

[BlunderBus]

Steve Wynn opened his wallet!!