Mystery object in sky? Google the answer

Jamie Lingman, left, and Kirsten Unuwai Photo/Stephen Parker

A strange white object in the skies above Rotorua had people wondering what they were seeing - was it Santa arriving early, the second coming of Christ or simply one of the Google balloons currently in New Zealand airspace?

The Google balloons have been flying above New Zealand since 2013 when they were launched in Canterbury. Two weeks ago they were reported to be flying over Hamilton.

BRIGHT OVAL: The Google balloon spotted over Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Parker

Yesterday, Maree Johnson was mowing her lawn when her daughter Virginia, 8, spotted it in the sky.

"We were trying to figure out what it was when my 12-year-old Baxter said he thought it was one of the Project Loon balloons."

Project Loon began with a pilot test in June 2013, when 30 balloons were launched from New Zealand's South Island and beamed internet to a small group of pilot testers.

The pilot test has since expanded to include a greater number of people over a wider area. The goal is to establish a ring of uninterrupted connectivity at latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, so that pilot testers in these latitudes can receive continuous service via balloon-powered internet.

Ms Johnson said she and her children, who are home-schooled, could see the balloon for two hours.

"It's very exciting. Everything went on hold. We got up and watched the International Space Station at 5am, then we saw this and then a ring around the sun. It's neat to have the community look up to the sky. We miss out on seeing eclipses due to bad weather being in the wrong hemisphere, so this was neat."

Comments on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page had readers wondering if it was a weather balloon, Superman or something more Biblical.

"Maybe it's Jesus' sign to us saying he's still watching us or he's getting reborn," wrote one.

"Santa, he's early," wrote another.