Within the last hour, word quickly spread about the unusual object spotted floating through skies across the western United States.
While conspiracy theories ranging from Santa Claus to aliens abound, we have received official confirmation as to what it was.
According to a tweet from Space X’s official Twitter account, the object was a Falcon 9 rocket that launched from Vandenberg Air Base, located north of Santa Barbara, CA.
~60 minutes until Falcon 9 launch of Iridium-4. Launch webcast will go live about 15 minutes before liftoff → https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z pic.twitter.com/rJ7ddLig3v
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 23, 2017
After lift off, reports from sightseers from southern California to Arizona came in wanting to know what they were witnessing.
Just minutes ago, SpaceX tweeted that the mission was a success.
Do you think there is something more to the story the public is not being told? Let us know in the comments.
Take a look at the launch from other vantage points below.
#SpaceX looks like a giant #sperm pic.twitter.com/2LqWkKTZx4
— PWGuru (@pwguru65) December 23, 2017
I thought it was over. #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/cwSUHVH7nG
— chris (@SuppChriss) December 23, 2017
#SpaceX it's Santa for all you non believers pic.twitter.com/cK4NTKir3d
— MadCityDan (@madcitydan) December 23, 2017
#SpaceX over Studio City pic.twitter.com/z35m5l3nGl
— James Brooks (@jbrooksyy) December 23, 2017
incredible! #SpaceX
booster, satellite 🛰 separation above the skies of palmdale pic.twitter.com/V3YNKFSnfR— ʜᴇɴʀʏ (@photoxlo) December 23, 2017