Strange, rocket-like object shows up in Phoenix skies

PHOENIX — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Actually…we don’t know what it is.

A strange rocket-looking object showed up in the skies over the Phoenix area on Tuesday night, causing residents across the Valley to scratch their heads and turn to social media for answers.

This? pic.twitter.com/XArjl1hcdP

— AZIndependent (@_gleng_) February 7, 2018

The figure in question looked like a blue “V-shape” with rocket burn behind it. People across the Valley — and the state — took notice.

A Tucson reporter even said it looked like it was heading toward the southeast.

Did anyone else just see this light streaking across the sky? Traveling towards the south east. #Tucson pic.twitter.com/lEGhyUemwN

— Dan Marries (@DanMarriesKOLD) February 7, 2018

@SpaceflightNow We walked out from dinner in Marana AZ where we have a curb on light pollution and saw what we were certain was SpaceX. While we watched we saw the final burn that takes the rocket deep into space. Awesome!! pic.twitter.com/FtOsboRLvG

— BPD (@MtnHigh) February 7, 2018

However, many attributed the figure to a rocket launch made earlier in the day by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The Falcon Heavy took off from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, carrying a red electric sports car aiming for an endless road trip past Mars. With liftoff, the Heavy became the most powerful rocket in use, doubling the liftoff punch of its closest competitor.

Third burn successful. Exceeded Mars orbit and kept going to the Asteroid Belt. pic.twitter.com/bKhRN73WHF

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2018

Musk was unsure the rocket would relight for the trans-Mars injection burn, but it looks like it is happening. No official word. #FalconHeavy

— Swapna Krishna (@skrishna) February 7, 2018

Just saw the impressive @SpaceX second stage rocket burn from Cassiopeia Observatory in southern Arizona. Will post photos on my report Wednesday morning.

— Mike Weasner (@mweasner) February 7, 2018

Regardless of what happens to the center core, and the third upper stage burn, getting to orbit was mission success for the Falcon Heavy rocket.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) February 6, 2018

The Phoenix-area has seen its fair share of spooky night lights recently. Last month, some odd lights were spotted in the sky above the Valley, just days after it was revealed the Pentagon has been secretly investigating UFOs for years.

It was unknown what the lights were, though online theorists suggested a group of lanterns or flares — one of the attributed causes of the infamous Phoenix Lights — or a test of a drone show.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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