Mysterious Flying Object In Malaysia's Night Sky May Be Chinese Rocket

Residents in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, spotted a strange cone-shaped glow moving across the sky at around 4am on 9 November 2026. Videos quickly circulated online, prompting speculation about the mysterious object. However, the sighting may be connected to China's Long March 12 rocket launch that morning, with the unusual appearance potentially caused by sunlight illuminating rocket exhaust at high altitude.

Strange Cone-Shaped Light Appears Over Kota Kinabalu Before Sunrise

Imagine looking up at the sky before sunrise and spotting a glowing object leaving behind an enormous triangular trail. That’s what several people in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, reportedly witnessed early on Monday, 9 November 2026. Videos shared on Threads showed a bright point moving through the darkness, accompanied by a widening, cone-shaped plume that gradually spread across the sky. The unusual appearance quickly attracted attention online, with people wondering whether they were looking at a meteor, an unidentified flying object or something connected to space activity. According to The Rakyat Post, the sighting occurred at approximately 4am, and the footage captured by multiple witnesses soon became a topic of discussion. Although the object looked mysterious, the timing and distinctive shape suggested that an ordinary astronomical or aerospace explanation was worth investigating.

A Chinese Rocket Launch May Explain The Unusual Sighting

One possible explanation emerged when people connected the Sabah sighting to a rocket launch from China’s Hainan province on the same morning. According to China Daily, a Long March 12 rocket lifted off from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang at 4.24am Beijing time, carrying a batch of internet satellites into orbit. Malaysia and China share the same time zone, placing the launch close to when the unusual light was reportedly seen. The visual effect may have been caused by what space enthusiasts call a space jellyfish, a phenomenon in which rocket exhaust expands high above Earth and becomes illuminated by sunlight while the ground below remains relatively dark. This can create a glowing, fan-shaped cloud that looks surprisingly unfamiliar from the ground. However, the matching timing and appearance alone do not conclusively establish that the rocket was responsible for the footage recorded in Kota Kinabalu.

The Rocket Was Carrying Satellites For China’s Internet Network

Beyond the viral footage, the Long March 12 launch was part of China’s ongoing effort to expand its satellite-based communications infrastructure. The rocket carried a group of low-Earth-orbit internet satellites developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. According to China Daily, this was the 29th group of satellites deployed for China’s state-owned internet network, while the mission marked the country’s 82nd space launch of 2026 and the 676th flight of the Long March rocket family. The broader Guowang project aims to build a network of nearly 13,000 satellites capable of supporting broadband connectivity, placing it in the same expanding industry as SpaceX’s Starlink. For Sabah residents, however, the immediate fascination was much simpler: a remarkable sight in the early morning sky that may have been connected to a rocket travelling far beyond Malaysia.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What was the mysterious flying object spotted over Kota Kinabalu?

The object may have been associated with China’s Long March 12 rocket launch on 9 November 2026. However, the exact identity of the object in the viral footage has not been conclusively confirmed.

What is the space jellyfish effect?

It is a visual phenomenon that occurs when rocket exhaust expands at high altitude and is illuminated by sunlight, often during dawn or dusk. From the ground, the exhaust can resemble a glowing cone, fan or jellyfish-shaped cloud.

What was China’s Long March 12 rocket carrying?

The rocket carried a group of low-Earth-orbit internet satellites intended for China’s state-owned satellite broadband network.

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SOURCES

Primary news source: The Rakyat Post.

Report date: 10 November 2026.

Supporting source: China Daily.

Original footage source: Videos shared by eyewitnesses on Threads.

Individuals involved: Residents and eyewitnesses in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, who recorded and shared the unusual sighting.

Location of sighting: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Date and time of sighting: 9 November 2026, approximately 4am Malaysian time.

Rocket launch location: Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, Wenchang, Hainan, China.

Rocket launch date and time: 9 November 2026, 4.24am Beijing time.

Relevant organisations: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China Academy of Space Technology and China SatNet.

Information status: The Long March 12 rocket launch has been reported and documented. Its connection to the viral Kota Kinabalu sighting remains a plausible explanation rather than a conclusively verified identification.

Original article: The Rakyat Post

Additional reference: China Daily

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By – Tarziman — 09:49PM
An independent writer who enjoys finding interesting angles in everyday stories. He believes even the simplest moments can be worth sharing when they’re told in a clear, relaxed and easy-to-understand way.