A series of cone-shaped UFOs reportedly illuminated the night skies over a Canadian province Tuesday night, sparking widespread curiosity and speculation.
While many residents wondered if the wild objects over British Columbia had otherworldly origins — scientific experts believe the terrestrial spectacle was likely just a SpaceX rocket deployment.
Malhar Kendurkar, of the Prince George Astronomical Observatory, told CBC Radio he saw the object and he was certain the light was a “jellyfish effect” resulting from the Falcon 9 rocket that launched around 9 p.m. from the Vandenberg Space Force base in California Tuesday evening.
The light phenomenon visible in British Columbia on Tuesday, May 5. Photo courtesy of Patsy Seymour via Facebook Facebook/Patsy SeymourSpaceX is the US aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk in 2002.
The amorphous light was visible across a large swath of the Canadian province between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. local time.
The exhaust from the rocket expanded as it reached the upper atmosphere, creating a cloud-like effect, according to Kendurkar.
Patsy Seymour, who posted a video of the light on Facebook, said it appeared to “dissipate” as it traveled into the distance.
A close up of the aerial phenomenon. Photo courtesy of Patsy Seymour via Facebook. Facebook/Patsy SeymourThe director of programming at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, Michael Unger, told CBC the light was not a natural occurrence like a cloud or meteor.
“It certainly looks controlled,” he said.
“Those things are just more common in our society now.”
