Hamilton's Jeremy Farish couldn't quite believe his eyes
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He was taking photos of the stars at Norah Head Lighthouse when he captured a blue glow with a streak of light through it.
"It was really weird. I was taking a photo of the Milky Way from the lighthouse. Then I saw this massive big blue circle and a massive lightning bolt through it," Jeremy said.
He saw it with the naked eye, as well as through the lens. His mate saw the light, too.
"It happened within 10 to 15 seconds. It didn't light up the whole sky," he said.
"I've never seen anything like it to tell you the truth. At first, someone was saying it might have been a meteorite. But it didn't look like that."
Jeremy posted the image on the Astronomy Australia Facebook page. It was subsequently suggested that the image may have been Russian space junk.
It was reported last Friday that debris from the Russian rocket Soyuz-2-1b burned up on re-entry.
Many people spotted it as a fireball streaking across the sky in south-eastern Australia in the evening. It was carrying a satellite designed to warn Russia of missile attacks.
Thing is, Jeremy's photo was taken on Wednesday at about 10.30pm.
There is a strange phenomena known as ball lightning, but it's unproven and usually associated with thunderstorms.
For now, it'll have to go down as an unsolved mystery or ... maybe aliens.
First Class
Tony Davis, of Elermore Vale, read our piece on Monday about Newcastle Airport's Dream Big competition, which invites readers to dream about their next getaway when state borders and the friendly skies are open again.
This reminded Tony of a trip he took in 1988. He was one of 10 social science teachers spending a month in the US, doing some teaching and travelling.
As they toured the east coast, the group realised there were times when someone needed to make a speech, give an introduction or simply promote Australia.
"We all drew straws to see who would be our leader each day," he said.
As it happened, Tony was the leader on the day of their flight home from Los Angeles to Sydney.
"After a month we were all ready for home. Despite the amazing welcome we had received in the US, we now regarded Australia as our favourite destination," he said.
Tony had the plane tickets and it was his job to organise the seats.
The 10 teachers were unable to sit together.
"There were four seats available in a block in economy up the front, five seats in economy down the back and one in first class," he said.
Tony jumped at the chance to sit among the Richie Riches.
"It was great - certainly a first for me."
His colleagues soon discovered his whereabouts. They came from cattle class to visit him, "shaking hands, laughing and bowing from the waist".
"An elderly gent sitting near me asked who all these people were. With a serious face, I explained that they were my 'followers'. He was suitably impressed."
Non-Viral Joke
This from Wallsend's Bruce Anthony.
Receptionist: Doctor, doctor, there's an invisible man in the waiting room.
Doctor: Well, tell him I can't see him.
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
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