West Coast Freaks Over Mystery Light in the Sky

A mystery light flashed across the skies of the West Coast after dark on Saturday, causing no small amount of breathless speculation that ranged from meteors to UFOs—all over what was in reality a missile test courtesy of the US Navy, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. The missile in question was an unarmed Trident II, which was fired off of Southern California in the Pacific Test Range from the USS Kentucky, a ballistic missile submarine.

"Light seen in OC sky was confirmed ... to be a Naval test fire off the coast," tweeted the Orange County Sheriff's Department, per KTLA. The light was seen as far away as Nevada and Arizona. "Each test activity provides valuable information about our systems, thus contributing to assurance in our capabilities," says a Navy rep in confirming the test. (More missile stories.)