Knoxville (WVLT) - If you were outside enjoying the warm December temperatures Monday night, you may have noticed a strange light in the sky.

An astronomer at UT says the light seen over East Knoxville may have resulted from a rocket launch.

According to a website called Space Flight Now, Cape Canaveral launched a rocket carrying a satellite into space just after five Monday evening.

What many of you were seeing according to UT was most likely what's called a "fuel dump," where excess fuel is dumped from the rocket, then burns.

People all over the Southeast reported seeing the lights about two hours after the launch.