A bright light moving across southern California Saturday night brought confusion and speculation from witnesses on the coast.
Some described it as a shooting star while others said it was a rocket. Other observers added that they saw it explode before the light trail began.
The light came from a planned missile test by the Navy, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The Navy Strategic Systems Programs had tested an unarmed Trident missile flight from the USS Kentucky, a ballistic missile submarine, off of the west coast.
This kind of procedure happens frequently, the Pentagon said.
“Each activity provides valuable information about our systems, thus contributing to assurance in our capabilities,” the statement said.
The Navy said it does not announce military tests, but Los Angeles International Airport did announce night flight routes were going to be affected until November 12 to accommodate for military airspace use.
