WATCH: Mysterious streak of light over Southern California sky puzzles onlookers

Early Tuesday morning (April 2), skywatchers across Southern California were astonished to capture streaks of sparkling light on camera.

The fiery illumination, potentially resulting from falling debris, emerged around 1:45 am, with sightings reported across a broad expanse including Los Angeles and surrounding areas. However, social media was filled with speculation about whether it was an asteroid entering the Earth's atmosphere.

"The light from the front was bright blue," said Jarred Gonzalez, who captured the light on video in the Pico Union area, as reported by NBC News. "It was visible to us for a good 30 seconds, then disappeared from our line of sight."

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NBCLA has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX, NORAD, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to obtain additional information.

The enigmatic display of light occurred following a SpaceX rocket launch approximately six hours earlier from Vandenberg Space Force Base, located around 160 miles (257 km) northwest of Los Angeles. The rocket, along with its exhaust plume, was illuminated by the setting sun against the darkening sky, resulting in stunning views across Los Angeles.

The Falcon 9 rocket successfully deployed approximately two dozen Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. The first-stage rocket booster returned to Earth and landed on a droneship in the sea.

The lights resembled those witnessed over the West Coast in March 2021, when remnants from a SpaceX rocket failed to completely disintegrate upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

(With inputs from agencies)