Breathtaking shots – this video is supposed to show an “artificial sun” from China.
The accompanying text gives the impression that the recordings show a man-made celestial body that burned hotter than the real star of our solar system for more than 17 minutes.
Millions of users see the clip on social networks.
But does the video really show an “artificial sun”? What’s up with the clip?
The images do not show an “artificial sun”, but a rocket launch in southern China.
The Long March 7 rocket was launched on December 23, 2021. According to Chinese media, it will launch two satellites into space.
According to the Reuters news agency, people in the video can be heard saying “rocket launched” several times in Chinese.
However, the claim that China created what is known as an “artificial sun” that burned 17 minutes hotter than the real star is not a hoax. In January 2022, it was reported that plasma was heated to 70 million degrees Celsius for more than 17 minutes in a fusion reactor in China.
Launching rockets sometimes look round in the video because the engine fire leads to overexposure – this mainly happens in the evening, at night and when using unsuitable cameras.
The case makes it clear how easily a fake can arise by mixing facts and a matching video. A launching rocket turns into an artificial sun in the sky over China.
How do we examine videos for manipulation in the editorial office? It is important to take a look at the details. The individual frames of a video often reveal whether a video has been edited. We take a close look at each picture and enlarge individual sections. Indications of a fake are, for example: lack of motion blur, unnatural shadows or cutting errors. At stern, the general rule is: Seriousness over speed. We always double-check facts and material carefully before we publish them. To do this, we work with the cross-editorial “Verification Team” together with RTL, NTV, RTL2, and Radio NRW.