Story highlights Mystery light spotted in the West spur questions on social media

Prevailing theory is that it's space junk from a Chinese rocket

(CNN) Bright, long streaks of light soared across the sky from Utah to California, stunning residents who got an unexpected show Wednesday night.

Theories over the stunning, mystery lights were many. Witnesses posted their videos on social media asking the burning question: What the heck was that? Was it a meteor? A missile? Evidence of extraterrestrial life?

So far, one theory has gained the most traction: It's a heap of burning space junk.

Did you catch the spontaneous light show in the sky tonight? https://t.co/Wv7h7ucXXQ — Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) July 28, 2016

Witnesses shared their images and videos on social media, as well as their amazement over the sight.

Here's my personal account and video of the fireball "#meteor" space junk reentry from tonight. https://t.co/VUr6dhONwZ — Ian Norman (@iaminorman) July 28, 2016

"We saw the most ridiculous fireball in the sky," said Ian Norman, a photographer, in a personal video account of what he saw from the slopes of the Sierra mountains in California.