Believed to be a UFO, a meteor, or a light from the ISRO South Station observatory, spectators from Mokokchung to Tuensang to Kohima found themselves baffled as a peculiar light illuminated the dusky sky on early Wednesday morning, 1 November 2023.
On Wednesday, social media platforms were inundated with videos and images capturing a “baffling phenomenon” as a mysterious light streaked across the Nagaland sky. Speculations ran wild, with some suggesting it might be a UFO, an unexpected comet, a meteor, or even a satellite. However, the truth behind this baffling occurrence could be far more down-to-earth.
“The video exhibits typical missile test signatures: smooth motion and a torch-like structure,” a former student of IIT Indore, presently a PhD Scholar specializing in Theoretical Astrophysics at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Kolkata (IISER Kolkata), told Mokokchung Times.
“It most probably could be a Brahmos missile, which was test-fired today from the Bay of Bengal. However, we cannot be certain unless the Indian Defense Force provides us with the trajectory. They most probably won’t, but given the circumstances, it is the best conclusion we can arrive at.”
“The torch-like structure of light is most probably due to burning fuel, causing propulsion because the object clearly moves in the opposite direction of the light. This is a trademark of missile or rocket propulsion. So, even if it is not a Brahmos, it is definitely a missile or a rocket,” added the scholar.
When asked about the absence of sound, he said, “It won’t make noise. They are designed for stealth.”
Furthermore, he added that regarding the apparent slow speed of the light as seen in the video obtained by Mokokchung Times (a
vailable in instagram @timesmokokchung), he said, “It is nearly impossible to gauge the speed from a video, especially of an object hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere. We can’t determine it without very precise instruments.”
“For instance, the Brahmos 1 has a cruise altitude of 15 kilometers, which is almost two times the altitude of Mount Everest. So, at that distance, a speed of 2.8 Mach will definitely appear slow, and 2.8 Mach isn’t that fast. It is just 280% of the speed of sound, which is only slightly less than 1 kilometer per second.”
The sighting coincides with the news of the Indian Navy successfully conducting a test of the BrahMos missile from one of its destroyers stationed in the Bay of Bengal on November 1, 2023. The test is reported to have resulted in the precise destruction of the intended target.
On the social media platform called X(formerly known as Twitter), the Indian Navy stated, “An Indian Navy Destroyer of the Eastern Naval Fleet carried out a successful firing of a BrahMos Missile in the Bay of Bengal. The missile achieved all mission objectives.” Notably, this test marked the third BrahMos missile test in the last three weeks.
Eye witness shares experience
Amid the flurry of activity on social media, a resident named Menang, who documented the event from Sabangya Compound in Chungtia village, Mokokchung District shared his experience. “I woke up at about 4:30 am and looked out the window. At first, it looked like a star. It was so bright. It didn’t make a sound, and later it just disappeared like that on our watch,” he recounted. Menang initially thought it might be a meteor shower, as NASA had recently announced such an occurrence.
Similar sightings were reported by Lisepi Sangtam from Tuensang, who shared their documentation around the same time. Furthermore, users on the Facebook page “The Nagas” confirmed similar observations in Kohima, suggesting that the “mysterious light” had captivated the attention of many across Nagaland.
About Brahmos
The BrahMos missile, a collaborative effort between India and Russia, boasts an impressive range of 290 kilometers and holds the title of the world’s fastest cruise missile, with a top speed of Mach 2.8. This speed is nearly three times faster than the speed of sound). Named after the prominent rivers of India and Russia, Brahmaputra and Moskva, respectively, this missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, and air. It exhibits pinpoint accuracy and functions effectively in both day and night, regardless of adverse weather conditions.
Operating on the “Fire and Forget” principle, it eliminates the need for additional guidance once launched. The missile employs a two-stage propulsion system, with a solid propellant engine in the first stage and a liquid ramjet in the second.