Theories surface as unidentified objects flicker for hours in the night sky

Two unidentifiable sources of light in the Cairns night sky that “changed colours but remained stationary” have confounded skywatchers.

TWO unidentifiable sources of light in Cairns that “changed colours but remained stationary” and bewildered stargazers is likely to have been a close encounter between two planets, an astronomer has confirmed.

Sherry Bancombe, a resident of Melbourne, was visiting her nephew in Manoora when she spotted a bright flickering light earlier this month.

“It was at 11.30pm, then 11.50pm,” Ms Balcombe said.

“They didn’t move. If they were stars, my question is why weren’t they moving.”

The objects reappeared in the night sky on March 3 and were seen by her nephew who went out on the street and caught a glimpse of the “brightest lights" near the mountains just behind Manoora.

“They didn’t move from 8pm until 12am. They changed colour, blinked, turning blue, green and red then switched off, and then came back on. I ended up going to bed because it was getting a bit obsessive.

Stationary flashing lights spotted in the Cairns night sky on March 2 have an interesting explanation. Picture: Sherry Balcombe

“On the web, people said they saw it until Townsville.”

Ms Balcombe saw the lights from the second floor veranda of her cousin’s place in Brant Close in Manoora and filmed it on her phone.

“I remember looking at it and going — they are a lot closer than I think but once I saw planes (seperate to the lights), the distance was more evident. It looked as if it was out of the atmosphere.”

Ian Maclean, astronomer and owner of Night Sky Secrets, said it was likely a close encounter between Jupiter and Venus that got within half a degree each other — finger width apart.

“On March 2, the planets very close together in the western sky. People described it as jewels hanging in space.”

Avid astronomer and owner of Night Sky Secrets Ian Maclean said planetary conjunctions happen every year. Picture: Brendan Radke.

While planetary “conjunctions” were common every year, this time it was almost half a degree between the two planets.

“They have been very close to each other over the past month. They are also the two brightest objects apart from the moon,” he said.

“As they get close to the horizon, the atmosphere can cause them (the planets) to flash and change colour as the light is broken up like a prism effect from the atmosphere.”

An upcoming conjunction between the moon and Mars is expected later this month, he said, along with the partial solar eclipse on April 20.

In regards to UFOs, Mr Maclean said he would never discount anything.

“I have always been able to explain anything seen in the night sky. I have been to the Cardwell UFO Festival that happens in every year, possibly the only UFO festival in Australia but I am yet to see one.”

Originally published as Theories surface as unidentified objects flicker for hours in the night sky