'UFO sighting' briefly freaks out Americans, but there's an earthly explanation
Monday, 25 December 2017
The people of Los Angeles, in the US, can be forgiven if they were a little quick to jump to extraterrestrial conclusions.
The US government did, after all, just admit that it had spent US$22 million (NZ$31.3 million) to investigate unidentified flying objects. And after 70 years of keeping the US government installation known as Area 51 under wraps, Uncle Sam conceded that, yes, it did exist, and yes, some super-secret stuff went on there.
So, it's perfectly logical that Los Angelenos gazing into a darkening sky around 5.30pm on Friday (local time) would assume their city was in the midst of an alien invasion.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who ultimately wants to put people on a space-bound Megabus, fanned the flames by saying on Twitter that the jellyfish-like shape in the sky was a 'nuclear alien UFO from North Korea'.
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Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea pic.twitter.com/GUIHpKkkp5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 23, 2017
Southern Californians and others in western parts of the US, well, freaked out.
What… in the world???? #DTLA pic.twitter.com/gqhpwm9PJq
— Aleen (@SoCalAleen) December 23, 2017
Former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer tweeted that she was wondering what the lights over Phoenix were. For some reason, she tagged US President Donald Trump.
Just wondering what these lights were over the city of Phoenix just now… @realDonaldTrump @POTUS pic.twitter.com/yS7p4OrIWW
— Jan Brewer (@GovBrewer) December 23, 2017
And many, many others pointed their smartphone cameras skyward, capturing what they assumed was the first sign of the alien apocalypse - or something - and musing about the vapory lights in the sky.
What the hell is this? pic.twitter.com/8tGK4GQ5ks
— Joe Mozingo (@joemozingo) December 23, 2017
Is there a UFO in LA or what? Flying in tmrw and would like to be forewarned if aliens have invaded.
— Brandi Cyrus (@BrandiCyrus) December 23, 2017
When #SpaceX says that was their rocket and not a UFO…. pic.twitter.com/1JwlfbQIGt
— Austin (@AustinLatest) December 23, 2017
There was, of course, a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Musk's SpaceX had launched an Iridium-4 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California - about 240km from the City of Angels.
According to the Los Angeles Times, officials had warned that people would be able to see the launch across southern California and elsewhere on the western half of the US. There was even a live webcast for those with more than a passing interest in rockets.
But for most people, there was just confusion, awe and maybe a little bit of panic.
And as Musk pointed out in the wee hours of Saturday morning, people along the US east coast can freak out next month.
'If you liked tonight's launch, you will really like Falcon Heavy next month: 3 rocket cores & 3X thrust. 2 cores return to base doing synchronized (sic) aerobatics. 3rd lands on droneship,' Musk tweeted.
If you liked tonight’s launch, you will really like Falcon Heavy next month: 3 rocket cores & 3X thrust. 2 cores return to base doing synchronized aerobatics. 3rd lands on droneship.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 23, 2017
A test launch of that rocket, which Musk hopes will someday lead to missions to Mars, will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.