The Night the Sky over Hawaii Turned Red
In 1962, the United States set off a nuclear bomb in space. In Hawaii, 1,400 kilometres away, the night sky lit up green and blood red, and streetlights went out.
What was reported
On 9 July 1962, the United States launched a rocket from Johnston Island in the Pacific carrying a 1.4-megaton nuclear warhead, and exploded it about 400 kilometres above the Earth, in space. The test was called Starfish Prime.
In Hawaii, about 1,400 kilometres away, people had been told in advance, and many held 'rainbow bomb' parties to watch. A bright flash was followed by a glowing sky of red, green and yellow that lasted for several minutes, like an artificial aurora. Streetlights failed in Honolulu, and telephone links were disrupted.
Explanations offered
The explosion released charged particles that were trapped by Earth's magnetic field, creating the glow and an electromagnetic pulse that damaged electrical systems. The new radiation belts it made damaged several satellites. Tests like it were banned by a treaty in 1963.
- When
- 9 July 1962
- Where
- In orbit, 400 km above Johnston Island, Pacific Ocean
- Witnesses
- People across Hawaii and the Pacific
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.