New Jersey residents experienced a moment of confusion and excitement when they noticed a string of lights in the sky, suspecting them to be extraterrestrial UFOs. The event took place as SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites into orbit.

The sightings quickly gained attention on social media, with hopes of encountering alien objects in the Garden State, coinciding with ongoing congressional hearings on flying saucers. However, the reality of the situation was far less sensational.

SpaceX clarified that the lights were simply the Starlink satellites passing over New Jersey after their launch from Cape Canaveral. The aerospace company stated that this particular mission was the fifth flight for the first stage booster, which had previously supported the Crew-6 and SES O3b mPOWER missions.

This is not the first time that such a sighting has occurred. Previous research conducted by the University of Vermont and the Center for UFO Studies has linked increased UFO reports to the presence of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. As the pandemic led to more individuals observing the night sky, the number of sightings surpassed 600 in 2020, with a correlation to the launch of Starlink satellites.

SpaceX currently operates more than 3,000 satellites in orbit around the Earth. With plans to expand the fleet to over 10,000 satellites by 2027, it is likely that such sightings will continue to confuse and fascinate observers in the future.