Japan astronomers believe green lights seen over Hawaii are lasers from Chinese satellite
- The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan said that the light show spotted over Hawaii’s tallest mountain in January was likely from a Chinese satellite launched last year
- It previously reported that a Nasa satellite’s topographic laser was responsible for the glow
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan posted video online of a string of lights in the sky filmed by a camera atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain on January 28.
The organisation’s researchers said Nasa’s ICESAT-2 satellite’s topographic laser, used to monitor sea ice and forests, was responsible for the light show.
But NOAJ added a correction to its YouTube post saying their satellite wasn’t the cause of lasers over Hawaii, Vice noted this week. Rather, “the most likely candidate,” according to the updated video, was a Chinese Daqi-1/AEMS satellite launched last year.
It’s used to track nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone, as well as carbon dioxide” the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said in a 2021 press release.