Lakeland, Florida - Several Polk County viewers called FOX 13 yesterday evening to report something in the sky.
meteor
© naA FOX 13 viewer sent this photo of the object in the sky over Polk County.

meteor
© naA FOX 13 viewer sent this photo of the object in the sky over Polk County.
The callers believed the object may have been a meteor or other object entering Earth's atmosphere.

Photos sent by one viewer showed the bright object with some sort of vapor or smoke trail behind it. They were taken at around 5:45 p.m.

It's not clear if the object was a passenger jet with its exhaust trail illuminated by the setting sun, or if it was a meteor or piece of space junk being burned up as it entered the atmosphere.

FOX 13 has been unable to reach any experts who could confirm either theory.

Two weeks ago, video taken by a news helicopter near Los Angeles created a buzz when it appeared to show a mystery missile being launched from the Pacific Ocean. The military later determined it was likely an aircraft's contrail being illuminated by the evening sun.

.