Team Go Rocket hot air balloons have invaded Pokemon Go

Team Go Rocket invasions are occurring in Pokemon Go.

The resident baddies of Pokemon Go, Team Go Rocket, are invading the game with hot air balloons, and you can now battle them anywhere on the map.

You will need to keep your eyes on the sky for balloons and battle the Team Go Rocket Grunts and Leaders which are piloting them. You may even find Giovanni.

The balloons will appear every few hours, but may appear more often "during takeovers."

Here's how to battle the Team Rocket Go balloons, per Niantic:

• Tap a balloon to battle Team Go Rocket: Tap a Team Go Rocket balloon, pick your battle party, and defeat Team Go Rocket to rescue their Shadow Pokemon. Team Go Rocket balloons will hover near you for a limited time, so be sure to check the map for balloons and tap them before they fly away.
• Equip your Rocket Radar to encounter balloons with Team Go Rocket Leaders: When you have a Rocket Radar equipped, you can find Sierra, Cliff, or Arlo piloting a Team Go Rocket balloon.
• Equip your Super Rocket Radar to encounter Giovanni: It appears that even the boss of Team Go Rocket can be found riding in a Team Go Rocket balloon. If you activate and equip a Super Rocket Radar, Giovanni’s balloon is certain to appear.

Professor Willow and the team leaders have recently discovered scraps of paper which apparently had something to do with the invasion. You may have to revisit the original plan for the Go Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research.

Niantic said to stay tuned for more updates on what Timed Research will involve and the battle-themed event.