Residents of Southern California and Arizona were startled just after dusk on Friday when a strange white light which later turned out to be a SpaceX rocket launch appeared in the sky.
The streak of white light would create what turned out to be a fish-shaped pattern, prompting locals to speculate on social media as to what it was.
Local television stations as well as law enforcement agencies received a number of telephone calls from amazed witnesses who were eventually told that what they saw was a rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in central California.
The launch in the setting sun created a shining streak that was widely seen throughout Southern California and prompted puzzlement and even concern.
Cars pulled over on freeways so drivers could take pictures.
Initially, some people thought it may have been a UFO or the prelude to an alien invasion.
There was also talk of a possible nuclear strike by North Korea.
Residents of Southern California and Arizona were startled just after dusk on Friday when a strange white light which later turned out to be a SpaceX rocket launch appeared in the sky
The streak of white light would create what turned out to be a fish-shaped pattern, prompting locals to speculate on social media as to what it was
Initially, some people thought it may have been a UFO or the prelude to an alien invasion
There was also talk of a possible nuclear strike by North Korea
But it turns out it was the contrail from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as seen above from Pasadena, California
Footage of the rocket launch was captured by a viewer of KTLA-TV.
‘What the heck is this weird jellyfish thing going across the sky right now!?!’ tweeted actress Jenna Fischer of The Office fame.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, quipped on Twitter that the object in the sky was a ‘nuclear alien UFO from North Korea.’
Twitter users were having a ball with the sighting.
Instagram user Ashley Benson uploaded this photo, writing: ‘So this just happened while I was hiking’
The twilight effect from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying 10 Iridium voice and data relay satellites is shown in a view from US Highway 101 and Padaro Lane in Carpinteria, California on Friday
This photograph released by SpaceX shows its Falcon 9 rocket before liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday
The reused SpaceX rocket that was launched on Friday carried 10 satellites into space from California
‘#SpaceX gotta give a better Public notice… I aint know if this was a Rocket, aliens, Santa Claus, or North Korea,’ tweeted one user.
The reused SpaceX rocket that was launched on Friday carried 10 satellites into space from California.
The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday.
It carried the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications.
The same booster carried Iridium satellites into orbit in June.
That time, it landed on a platform in the Pacific. This time, the rocket plunged into the sea.
It’s the final launch of 2017 for SpaceX, which has contracted to replace Iridium’s system with 75 new satellites.