On the night of Friday, May 16, something strange lit up the skies over the American Southwest-- a blazing streak of light that rocketed across the sky, leaving curious onlookers in its wake. Eyewitnesses in such Arizona towns as Safford, Fountain Hills, and Payson, and even into parts of New Mexico and Colorado-- were left with one burning question: What did we just see?
Social media quickly lit up alongside the sky. A viral Facebook post showcasing the eerie spectacle drew a flood of comments, photos, and theories. Some pointed to a Chinese rocket launched that same day, speculating it might be the source—perhaps ferrying satellites into orbit. Others offered more exotic possibilities: STEVE, a rare atmospheric phenomenon that dances like the northern lights, or even a “light pillar,” created when light reflects off ice crystals suspended high in the atmosphere.
Attempts by the Arizona Republic to reach Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in southern Arizona, and Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque have so far gone unanswered, and so the mystery lingers.