Nasa rocket launch spotted in New Zealand skies

Tuesday, 14 August 2018

An Auckland astronomer was able to capture photos of the moment a Nasa rocket launched in the United States passed over New Zealand.

Stardome educator and astrophotographer, Josh Kirkley witnessed Nasa's Parker Solar Probe making its way through space.

The Parker Probe, which was named after astrophysicist, Eugene Parker, who first described solar wind in 1958, and is headed for the sun. 

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Kirkley said he captured the probe on camera without even realising it.

'I captured it on Sunday night and I wasn't even aware that it could be seen from New Zealand.'

On Twitter and Instagram Kirkley had seen people posting about 'strange lights in the sky' and a 'UFO over New Zealand' which piqued his curiosity.

'I was actually really confused when I saw the probe in the sky, as I drove I noticed this large glowing object in the sky getting brighter so I pulled over to take a look.'

Kirkley described the rocket as being 'slow moving' and appearing to look like a comet.

'I knew no rockets had been launched in New Zealand and there had been no reports of comets. I genuinely had no idea what it was and was pretty confused seeing as I'm the one who usually debunks UFO sightings.'

An American friend ended up telling Kirkley about the Nasa launch that happened a few hours before Kirkley captured the images.

'I didn't think it would be visible from here as it was launched all the way in Florida.'

Parker will be making 24 loops around the sun to study its physics.

It's expected to get  closer to the sun than any other rocket, within 6.13 million kilometres of it.

​Kirkley captured the images at Whangaripo Valley Road near Pakiri.