A secret missile launch? Mystery streak of light spotted over Whidbey Island leaves locals baffled
Weather camera captured a mystery object that looks like a missile in ascent
The streak was spotted over Whidbey Island, where there is a naval air station
A spokesman from NAS Whidbey Island said there are no missiles at the base
Some experts claim the light comes from an air ambulance helicopter, while others are adamant it is a secret missile launch despite the recent denials
A weather camera has captured a mystery object streaking across the sky over Washington's Whidbey Island.
The peculiar light, spotted at 3:56 am PDT (6: 56 am ET/ 11:56 am BST) yesterday, has left locals baffled.
Whidbey Island has a naval air station and some claim the streak may be a secret missile launch.
However, the military has denied any such activity.
Experts have told MailOnline that the light may come from an air ambulance helicopter operating in the region.
Greg Johnson of Shunk Bay Weather on the northern Kitsap Peninsula spotted the vertical streak with his night camera.
'My night camera picked up what clearly looks like a very large missile launch from Whidbey Island', he wrote on his Facebook page.
'I really wanted more information before I shared this with the public.'
Mr Johnson said he contacted a number of experts about the strange sighting, including Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor
Society who said it was definitely not a meteor.
It looked like a missile launch to him as well', wrote Mr Johnson.
'To me, this looks like a launch of some kind', Professor David Shultz, Professor of Synoptic Meteorology from the University of Manchester's Centre for Atmospheric Science told MailOnline.
'I am pretty sure it's not a meteorological event', he said.
Mr Johnson, who tweets under the user name Skunkbayweather, said he did not think the object was an plane.
Professor Cliff Mass, professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington also said the object looked just like a missile launch.
'This feature does not look like a meteor, nor are there any meteor reports for the area that I could find online', Professor Mass wrote on his blog.
'The lightning networks did not show a strike in that area', he said.
'I have never heard of rocket launches from Whidbey Island Air station in Oak Harbor. And checking online, I can not find any discussion of this feature', he wrote.
However, according to automotive website The Drive, there was an air ambulance helicopter flying in the vicinity of Skunk Bay when the image was taken.
More here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5834111/A-secret-missile-launch-Mystery-streak-light-spotted-Washington-state-island.html