Astrophotographer captures China's Long March 12 rocket launch over New Zealand

Astrophotographer Darryl Jones captured images of China's Long March 12 rocket launch from his home in Lauder, New Zealand, early Sunday morning. He noticed a bright light in the sky around 4:05 AM and took photos with his iPhone. The Long March 12 rocket, measuring 62 meters tall, is part of China's efforts to enhance its launch capabilities and aims for a crewed moon landing by 2030. Jones has been practicing astrophotography for nearly 45 years and noted that Lauder's dark skies make it ideal for such activities. Jones initially thought the light was a star or planet but realized it was moving. He used a tracking app to confirm it was not a satellite, highlighting the significance of the moment and his location for capturing the event.