Object resembling mini ‘Death Star’ found in Wales came from South Florida, NOAA says
A mysterious orb resembling “Star Wars” space weaponry was found on a concrete column in Wales, and closer inspection revealed it originated in South Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
And it’s not a weapon.
Paul Roberts, who lives in the town of Tywyn in North Wales, says the object turned up June 2 along Cardigan Bay and its origin was quickly determined when “Property of US Government” was found on it.
“The area where it was found used to be part of an Army camp and training center called Tonfanau. It was used to prepare for the D-Day landings, so the column that someone placed it on was left over from the old Army base,” Roberts told McClatchy News in an email.
“The band running around the middle and the dimples on it reminded me of the Death Star from ‘Star Wars.’ It stood out from a long way away. ... I knew it might be important so I contacted NOAA straight away.”
Turns out the object is a lost buoy from NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, according to Scott Atwell, Communications and Outreach Manager at Florida International University.
It drifted about 4,400 miles to end up in Wales.
“Our mooring buoys have letters that tell us where they’re located but they must have rubbed off on the journey,” Atwell told McClatchy News. “There are about 600 of these throughout the Keys so in this case there is no telling (its original location).”
The buoy likely traveled on the Gulf Stream, a current of warm water that travels up the East Coast and crosses the North Atlantic to Europe.
It’s the third time in recent months a buoy from South Florida has been found in Europe, including one found in France.
Roberts is keeping this one and revealed his plan for it.
“My little nephew fell in love with it and wanted us to bring it home, so it’s now in our garden, where it’s going to be painted grey and made to look like the Death Star,” Roberts said.
“I might also fit some LED lights inside it so it lights up at night, with a solar panel to charge it during the day. My nephew will be thrilled since he’s a huge ‘Star Wars’ fan!”
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary “protects 3,800 square miles of waters” around the Keys, including the continent’s only coral barrier reef, NOAA says.
It stretches from south of Miami to the Dry Tortugas, and begins at the high-water mark, “essentially meaning that once you set foot in Keys waters, you have entered the sanctuary.”
This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 6:19 AM with the headline "Object resembling mini ‘Death Star’ found in Wales came from South Florida, NOAA says."