What was this strange light over Phoenix last night?

Unidentified flash in the sky.
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/City of Phoenix, AZ)

The city government of Phoenix picked up something rather extraterrestrial on its city cam around 8:30 p.m. local time Tuesday night:

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Naturally, some people jumped to the conclusion that it was definitely aliens:

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Other people just wanted answers:

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There is a more logical and scientific explanation for the Phoenix light. Arizona's 12 News reports that the "Leonid meteor shower is active in November, and it is expected to peak later this week." The city government, too, tagged its video with the hashtag #Meteor.

That being said, 12 News does leave room for anyone who wants to believe: "It's not clear whether this flash was related to that meteor shower." Watch the strange Phoenix light again below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.