'Definitely not aliens': SpaceX launch lights up California skies

By CTVNews.ca Staff

Published: October 08, 2018 at 11:24AM EDT

Space X launch looks like 'alien invasion' A Space X rocket launch created an eerie cloud effect over California the sky.

SpaceX’s first launch on the West Coast left the California skies glowing with a spectacular trail of light, forcing the Los Angeles mayor to inform residents they were not witnessing an alien invasion.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Sunday, to deploy an Argentinian satellite before successfully returning to land at the Vandenberg Air Force Base northwest of L.A.

While the rocket’s launch and subsequent return to Earth lasted just 15 minutes, it traced a bright luminescent trail across the sky that some people captured in pictures and video.

Social media users from as far away as Phoenix, Ariz. -- more than 850 kilometres form the launch site -- reported seeing the strange lights in the night sky.

In advance of the rocket launch, U.S. Air Force warned Californians that they might see multiple engine burns in the sky and hear one or more sonic booms on the rocket’s return to Earth.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also warned that the launch wouldn’t be “subtle,” but the rocket still caused a spike of Californians turning to Google for information about UFOs.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti worked to defuse the speculation, tweeting that the bright, glowing light in the sky was in fact the Falcon 9 and “definitely not aliens.”

With files from Storyful and The Associated Press

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@spacex Falcon 9 taking off above Downtown LA. Shot at 1 second interval alongside @rajajavid and @la_reflections!
A post shared by Emeric's Timelapse (@emerictimelapse) on Oct 7, 2018 at 9:42pm PDT

Nope, definitely not aliens.

What you’re looking at is the first launch and landing of the @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the West Coast. The rocket took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 7:21 p.m. and landed safely back on Earth. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/8AKjGptpps
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) October 8, 2018

A closer look at tonight's #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch. pic.twitter.com/99m8OQYfkw
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) October 8, 2018

Hoping this is #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/wTSpedEuAv
— Enriched Minds (@enrichedminds17) October 8, 2018

Falcon 9's first West Coast land landing pic.twitter.com/zObJgzLI0C
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 8, 2018

Spacex launch as seen in la. Video will be on YouTube soon. #SpaceX #rocket @SpaceX pic.twitter.com/pv9gkQBZin
— Tony Qin (@tonyqin58) October 8, 2018