A dazzling streak of light slicing through the sky early dawn on Thursday, December 4, 2024,ย had captivated some residents of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur. The same celestial event had also dazzled some residents of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.
Social media erupted as netizens shared videos and photos of the phenomenon, which reportedly lasted several minutes, fueling curiosity and speculation.
In a statement, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) offered an intriguing explanation.
“The objects seen in the videos are not consistent with meteor showers and are likely not of astronomical origin,” PhilSA clarified. “Nor can they be attributed to rocket launch debris.”
However, PhilSA noted the objectsโ striking similarity to previously recorded events involving space debris, such as defunct rocket stages or decommissioned satellites reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
Adding to the mystery, PhilSA confirmed that China had launched a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan at 1:55 PM (Philippine time) on Wednesday, December 3.
Could the streak of light be remnants of the rocket reentering Earth’s atmosphere?
PhilSA has pledged to monitor the situation closely and gather more data to provide an accurate assessment. Meanwhile, the agency issued a cautionary reminder to the public:
- Report any sightings of debris to local authorities immediately.
- Avoid retrieving or approaching the materials, as they may pose health and safety risks.
One thing is clear as questions linger on: the spectacle has sparked fascination and renewed interest in the mysteries of the sky.
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