A fireball streaking across the sky of Los Angeles prompted speculation about a meteor attack, a speeding superhero and even an alien invasion.

The flaming apparition was caught on film as it swooped down towards the city’s downtown area on Wednesday night.

“What is this flying item on fire?” asked resident Dennis Hegstad as he posted the footage on Twitter.

Most responses suggested an asteroid, even though it appeared to change direction and level off as it neared the ground.

Other ideas included Iron Man, the Decepticons, a drone crash, a dragon, and Donald Trump’s lastest border wall proposal.

Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon rises over the Karancs Hills in Hungary EPA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon over the Empire State Building in New York Reuters Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon over Los Angeles, California AFP/Getty Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon rises over the Galicia Massif mountains in Spain EPA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon over Nicosia, Cyprus EPA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon rises over the Santiago de Compostela cathedral in Galicia, Spain EPA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon rises over silhouettes of the Beatles in Liverpool PA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon over the Guggenheim Museum in Bibao, Spain EPA Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon rises near Encinitas, California Reuters Super worm moon - last supermoon of 2019 in pictures Worm moon over Los Angeles, California AFP/Getty

The Los Angeles Police Department attempted to reassure residents by issuing a public service announcement: “A meteor did not crash into Downtown Los Angeles, and no, it’s not an alien invasion... just a film shoot. This is Tinseltown after all.”

Another user attempted to clear up the mystery by posting a video of two wingsuit flyers trailing sparks.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events