Buildings are silhouetted as the night sky is illuminated by blue light in New York, on Thursday, December 27. After initial reports of a transformer explosion at a Consolidated Edison Inc. power plant, the power company said the light came as part of an electrical fault that caused an "arc flash."
In pictures: Eerie glow over New York skyline
Buildings are silhouetted as the night sky is illuminated by blue light in New York, on Thursday, December 27. After initial reports of a transformer explosion at a Consolidated Edison Inc. power plant, the power company said the light came as part of an electrical fault that caused an "arc flash."
Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Updated 3:10 PM EST, Fri December 28, 2018

An electrical flash at a Con Edison substation in Queens temporarily lit up New York's skyline in a brilliant blue on Thursday night, December 27.

Despite the eerily glowing color, there was no alien invasion.

Instead, the light came as part of an electrical fault that caused an "arc flash," Con Edison spokesman Bob McGee said, similar to lightning.

The New York Police Department initially said there had been a transformer explosion, but the power company later said no explosion occurred.

Blue light illuminates the night sky Thursday, December 27, in New York as a result of an electrical flash at a Con Edison substation in Queens.
Blue light illuminates the night sky Thursday, December 27, in New York as a result of an electrical flash at a Con Edison substation in Queens.
Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
New York's skyline appears in a brilliant blue. The light came as part of an electrical fault that caused an "arc flash," a Con Edison spokesman said.
New York's skyline appears in a brilliant blue. The light came as part of an electrical fault that caused an "arc flash," a Con Edison spokesman said.
@hyejunie/Twitter
The night sky lights up, as viewed from the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
The night sky lights up, as viewed from the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Craig Ruttle/AP
New York police initially reported there was a "transformer explosion" at a Con Edison facility in Queens.
New York police initially reported there was a "transformer explosion" at a Con Edison facility in Queens.
Steve Fine
Blue light illuminates the night sky after the incident.
Blue light illuminates the night sky after the incident.
Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
No injuries were reported, the New York Fire Department said.
No injuries were reported, the New York Fire Department said.
@stoopoken/Instagram
Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison facility in Queens.
Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison facility in Queens.
Craig Ruttle/AP
Despite the eerie glow, there's "no evidence of extraterrestrial activity," New York police said on Twitter.
Despite the eerie glow, there's "no evidence of extraterrestrial activity," New York police said on Twitter.
Ethan Harp/CNN
Birds fly over a pier as the blue light illuminates the night sky
Birds fly over a pier as the blue light illuminates the night sky
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