Mysterious Lights Streaking Across Southern California Sky Identified as Chinese Spacecraft Debris
Speculation ran rampant overnight Monday as lights streaked across the Southern California sky, prompting theories ranging from meteorites to aliens. However, experts including a Smithsonian astronomer and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute quickly identified the objects as remnants of the Chinese Shenzhou 15 orbital module.
Videos captured a cluster of objects hurtling over the area, sparking a frenzy of questions on social media about the origin of the mysterious lights. Theories abounded, with some suggesting Chinese spacecraft, SpaceX debris, or even a comet could be responsible for the spectacle.
Interestingly, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch had taken place earlier in the evening before the light display, leading some to believe that the lights were connected to the SpaceX mission. Speculators also hypothesized that the lights could be from space junk falling to Earth and breaking up as it re-entered the atmosphere.
The Chinese orbital module in question had been launched back in November 2022, carrying astronauts on a mission. Experts had predicted that it would re-enter Earth’s atmosphere early Tuesday morning, which aligned with the timeline of the light display.
As the dust settled and the speculation subsided, it became clear that the mysterious lights were simply debris from a Chinese spacecraft, rather than a visit from extraterrestrial beings. The incident served as a reminder of the ongoing activity in space, as human-made objects continue to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and captivate observers on the ground.
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