Photos and videos of a mysterious light that appeared over Sacramento and the Bay Area in California filled social media on Wednesday - throwing up more questions than answers. The lasso-shaped illumination led to many conspiracy theories, according to CBS News.
"It was far too big to be a firework," said Gus Graves of San Francisco. "I'm thinking it's some sort of high-tech rocket that they're working on, possibly? Or aliens. One of the two."
The Sacramento Bee reports that a Delta IV Heavy rocket, carrying satellites, was supposed to launch from in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday evening. The launch was cancelled at about the same time the light appeared and has been rescheduled for Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the strange light left locals puzzled, as many took to Twitter to figure out what it could be and to share pictures and videos. See some of the tweets below:
Spotted in the night sky in #Natomas. Reflecting light and not moving. What is it??? pic.twitter.com/JbaYUiPnbh
- Megan Hansen (@HansenMegan) December 20, 2018
One user wondered whether it was a space-time tear
Strange light in the sky over #Sacramento. Just a space-time tear, I assume. pic.twitter.com/IO20ymoPkR
- Chris Nelson (@ThatChrisNelson) December 20, 2018
Others shared pics
"?" Currently in the sky over #Sacramento pic.twitter.com/RHjc9xeurw
- Michael Minnick (@SacraMINNICK) December 20, 2018
Not my best photography work, but wtf is that light in the sky? #Sacramento #rocket pic.twitter.com/y3P9j7cm7O
- Brian Strand (@thenorthmusic) December 20, 2018
And videos...
What is that over #Sacramento skyline today? Down airplane?
- Irvis Orozco (@IrvieOro) December 20, 2018
It looks like a ship broke down, its like something eerie out of the #twilightzone pic.twitter.com/zClegjemY1
According to the National Weather Service, the object was probably a meteor. "Still not 100% certain, but evidence is growing the object seen was a meteor. A meteor can create a very high level cloud called a noctilucent cloud," they explained in a tweet.
Still not 100% certain, but evidence is growing the object seen was a meteor. A meteor can create a very high level cloud called a noctilucent cloud. @NASA has a great webpage explaining the cloud formation. https://t.co/eDquECamLl #cawx
- NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) December 20, 2018
The Lick Observatory also determined the mysterious light trail was a bright meteor.
"A very bright meteor that fell through the atmosphere, and it took place shortly after sunset so that the contrail that was left behind was still lit by the sun," Bing Quock, assistant director of the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences, said to CBS News.
Just a few weeks ago, a bright blue light was observed over Texas, and similarly left many puzzled.
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