Astronomers have revealed that a Chinese satellite fired green laser beams over the state of Hawaii – at a time when tensions are boiling over between Beijing and Washington after several foreign objects including a Chinese spy balloon were shot down over the US in recent days.

Scientists at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) captured the mystery beams of light on video through its Subaru-Asahi Star Camera on Mauna Kea back on 28 January.

Footage of the incident shows green laser light beaming over the cloudy sky over Maunakea in Hawaii.

See Also:

“Efharisto Poli File” – Turkish Newspaper Hurriyet thanks Greek rescue team EMAK in front page

At the time, the space agency said that the lights were thought to be from a NASA remote-sensing altimeter satellite.

But, on 6 February, the NAOJ made a correction note, instead revealing that the “most likely candidate” for the laser beams was China.

Read more: Independent