Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Watch: Rocket Lab's latest sunset launch could create 'twilight phenomenon' in sky

By Gianina Schwanecke
Hawkes Bay Today·
16 Jan, 2021 02:15 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

In December 2019, a Rocket Lab launch with similar conditions which produced the twilight phenomenon led to reports of UFO sightings by many North Island residents. Photo / File

In December 2019, a Rocket Lab launch with similar conditions which produced the twilight phenomenon led to reports of UFO sightings by many North Island residents. Photo / File

Rocket Lab's first mission for the year, set to launch on Saturday night, may treat viewers to a spectacular light display.

The mission, named Another One Leaves the Crust, is scheduled for an evening lift-off during a 10-day launch window starting today at 8.44pm.

A live webcast (above) will begin 15 minutes before liftoff.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

With the launch taking place right on sunset, it may produce a night sky effect known as the twilight phenomenon.

The phenomenon occurs when particles from the rocket propellant left in the vapour trail condense, freeze and expand in the less dense upper atmosphere.

Against the background of a dark sky, and illuminated by the sun, the rocket's exhaust plume appears to change colours, putting on a display of blue and white lights in the sky.

It doesn't happen every launch as it's unique to night and twilight launches - it's only happened for three previous Rocket Lab missions.

In December 2019, a launch with similar conditions led to reports of UFO sightings by many North Island residents.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Eager photographers will want to have their cameras at the ready on launch day, as it may be seen from as far south as Invercargill.

The launch is scheduled to take place between 8.38pm and 8.45pm on Saturday, with back-up opportunities set down through January 25 should the mission need to be stood down.

A dedicated mission for European space technology company OHB Group, it will see a single communication micro satellite deployed which will enable specific frequencies to support future services from orbit.

A live webcast will begin about 15 to 20 minutes before the launch from rocketlabusa.com/live-stream

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

Hawkes Bay Today

Stabbing in Hawke’s Bay, one taken to hospital with serious wounds

19 Jun 10:45 PM
Hawkes Bay Today

Air NZ plane lands safely after mid-air maintenance alert

19 Jun 09:14 PM
Hawkes Bay Today

'Living expressions': Pou returned to Hastings Civic Square after restoration

19 Jun 09:00 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

Stabbing in Hawke’s Bay, one taken to hospital with serious wounds

Stabbing in Hawke’s Bay, one taken to hospital with serious wounds

19 Jun 10:45 PM

One person was taken into custody at the scene.

Air NZ plane lands safely after mid-air maintenance alert

Air NZ plane lands safely after mid-air maintenance alert

19 Jun 09:14 PM
'Living expressions': Pou returned to Hastings Civic Square after restoration

'Living expressions': Pou returned to Hastings Civic Square after restoration

19 Jun 09:00 PM
Our top Premium stories this year: Special offer for Herald, Viva, Listener

Our top Premium stories this year: Special offer for Herald, Viva, Listener

19 Jun 08:11 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP