A long streak of lights slow-danced across the night sky over the Pacific Northwest Thursday night. The bright show dazzled onlookers from Canada to Oregon, leaving many to wonder what caused the spectacle.
While viewers suspected a meteor shower or dissolving comet, scientists report the sight was actually man-made.
Dr. James Davenport, research assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, confirmed the lights were caused by the Falcon 9 rocket coming back down from orbit. He said the debris was likely about 30 miles into the atmosphere and it was unlikely any substantial pieces would reach the ground.
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, launched the Falcon 9 stage 2 rocket on March 4. [ Ссылка ]
