The bright light over Sabah that residents saw and filmed early on Monday (Nov 9) came from the launch of a Chinese rocket, the Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa) said on Wednesday.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mysa said the Long March 12 rocket was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Centre in Wenchang, on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, at 4.24am.
Photos and videos of the light moving across the dark sky spread quickly on social media after it was spotted from Kota Kinabalu at about 4.30am, minutes after the launch.
Mysa said the Philippine Space Agency had informed it that debris from the mission could fall within designated drop zones in Philippine waters, about 25 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa in Palawan and 19 nautical miles from the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
The agency said it had so far received no official reports of debris from the launch being found in Malaysian territory. Members of the public who come across suspicious objects believed to be linked to the launch have been urged to contact Mysa’s Space Regulatory Division immediately.
A glowing shape described as a “space jellyfish” was also reported over Palawan in the Philippines. The Philippine Navy said the effect appears when sunlight reflects off rocket exhaust high in the atmosphere during twilight, creating a luminous formation that resembles a jellyfish.
It is the second time in a week that lights in the night sky have drawn attention in Malaysia. Last week, bright lights seen over Malaysia were linked to a retired Nasa telescope burning up as it fell back through the atmosphere.