Test missile puffs across skies of metro Phoenix

PHOENIX — It’s too early in December for Santa Claus to be flying so the U.S. Army offered an explanation for the white streak seen shooting across Arizona skies Thursday morning — a missile testing.

The contrails of a Juno test missile that launched from New Mexico was clear to Valley residents from Scottsdale to Goodyear and beyond starting around sunrise.

I was hoping for something a little more dramatic but still kinda cool. #juno #missile #picsfrommypatio #phoenix #sunrise #camelbackmountain #testmissile #newmexico #beon12 #abc15 #arizonacollective #igersphx #instagramaz #picoftheday

A photo posted by Steve Douglas (@histevedouglas) on Dec 10, 2015 at 6:14am PST

News of the launch came out Wednesday, including the odds it would be visible in the Valley.

The White Sands Missile Range is about 140 miles from the Arizona border to the east.

A stunning shot of the #Juno missile taken by our own @RonHoonFox10 outside our studios. https://t.co/WJeDDtfDfy pic.twitter.com/EA8jd2haQY

— Brent Corrado (@BrentCorrado) December 10, 2015

Seeing smoke in the air? Don't worry, it's from the #Juno missile launch in New Mexico. https://t.co/tJSqmOFsw2 pic.twitter.com/9a56Z1PEAd

— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) December 10, 2015

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