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Orange glow in Houston sky: What is it?
A glowing orange streak was reported in the Houston sky on Wednesday night. FOX 26 Meteorologist Mike Iscovitz explains what may have caused it.
HOUSTON - FOX 26 received several messages from viewers on our Facebook page Wednesday night about a glowing streak of light in the sky.
So what was it? Aliens? A portal to another dimension? FOX 26 Meteorologist Mike Iscovitz says the answer may have to do with the clouds.
(Photo Source: Yanira Moreno)
Cirrostratus clouds are made up of ice crystals. The way the ice is arranged makes up little hexagons – like little prisms – and that can create a "light pillar".
This happens a lot in very cold climates. For example, if there’s freezing fog and a streetlight, you can get a light pillar that looks like it shoots straight up out of the streetlight.
(Photo Source: Yanira Moreno)
In Houston on Wednesday night, it’s possible there was flaring at a local petrochemical plant, and the clouds caused a light pillar effect.
If you have any photos that you'd like to share with us, feel free to send them via our FOX 26 Facebook page.