Doubt cast over ‘meteor’ sightings over Hobart with plane contrails the likely explanation

A “METEOR” type object seen in the skies over Hobart was more than likely the contrail of a plane heading to New Zealand shining in the sunrise light.

A “METEOR” type object seen in the skies over Hobart this morning was more than likely the contrail of a plane heading to New Zealand shining in the sunrise light.

David Finlay, from Australian Meteor Reports, said he had not received any reports of meteor activity over Tasmania.

“It is not uncommon for people to mistake jet contrails for meteors, especially in the afternoon and in the western sky as the sun sets. I’ve watched some people looking at contrails who even thought they were seeing a comet,” Mr Finlay said.

After watching video footage of the “meteor” taken by Hobart resident Lee-Ann Peters, Mr Findlay said: “A beautiful video of an A380 contrail.”

Another poster on Facebook said he could confirm via Flight Radar 24 that an Emirates Airbus A380 passed directly over Hobart at 6.30am — the time the object was seen — bound for Auckland.

Many Mercury readers also said they thought it was a plane.

Others suggested it was from the International Space Station, which actually flew over last night.