On Tuesday night, the residents of the Australian town of Mildura attended a night show that at first had a difficult explanation: the dark sky was dyed with a pink glow that lasted for long minutes. As the phenomenon coincided with the announcement of a solar storm on earth, and had no other apparent explanation, the neighborhood’s social networks were filled with messages of surprise and disbelief.
A couple surprised by the phenomenon took photos around 6:45 in the Koorlong area. Kelly Follett tells it like this in statements to EL PERIÓDICO: “My husband and I were a little confused about the evening sky and at first we thought that It could have been a fire, but since it was a pink glow, we knew it couldn’t be.”. The area, in the state of Victoria, has suffered severe bushfire seasons and residents are familiar with their circumstances.
“I immediately posted a message on our local town’s Facebook page, asking if anyone knew what it could be,” recalls Follett, who is a nurse. “Some said it could be a solar flare! Also aliens, or The upside down world of ‘Stranger Things’“, she comments amused.
The incident, picked up by the local chain ABC News in Mildura-Swan Hill, was clarified as soon as the geographic focus of the light was identified: a new cannabis facility on the outskirts of Mildura. Peter Crook, CEO of the Cann Group medical cannabis company, explained that the start-up of the plant, which received official permission to start operations a month ago, caused the phenomenon: “Normally, blackout shutters are closed at the same time the sun sets, but last night we had the lights on and the blinds hadn’t closed yetso there was a period where a glow was created.”
#Mildura and surrounds were treated to a spectacular sight tonight when a red light appeared in the sky.
Was it aliens?
an aurora?
No, it appears to have been the hydroponic lights from a medicinal cannabis farm reflecting off cloud which is somehow the most Mildura answer ever. pic.twitter.com/Wfy63tRrng— Sarah Tomlinson (@sarah_tomlinson) July 19, 2022
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The medicinal plants are fed by powerful LED lights, pink in this laboratory, and “the period of flowering is 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness, which is normally from 7 am to 7 pm,” said the person in charge of the company, which keeps the exact location of the plant hidden.
Residents of the area such as Alexandra Talent have explained to EL PERIÓDICO that the phenomenon has not occurred again this past night, despite the fact that the inhabitants of Mildura were expectant. “It was definitely an unusual show.” Talent explains. Other neighbors compared it on social networks with a northern lights.