A bright light shooting into the night sky.

This was the view of one Yigo man, who caught the military’s missile intercept test on video overnight.

The exercise took place while most island residents were asleep, leaving many to wake up to the surprising news this morning.

Community members noted not hearing about the test, from surprise to unawareness.

The community spoke out about the “Sling Stone” exercise, with some, like a Dededo couple, expressing disappointment over the lack of advance notice.

“They need to inform us so we can be wide awake,” they said.

“What if something really happens in Guam? How are we all going to react? We’re all going to panic. It’s scary,” they added.

But not everyone feels the same way.

“They don’t necessarily need to communicate with the local people. I don’t need to know that the missile is coming at that point—they need to do their job and then let us know,” a Piti resident said.

Meanwhile, KUAM’s social media was buzzing with reactions.

Users comments:

“An exercise to improve communication not communicated to the public? Make it make sense?”

“Why inform us of the tsunami sirens testing and not that.”

“I thought it was a shooting star.”

“Saw this from Tumon last night and was convinced it was a UFO…”

“Launch then give the people heads up. Thanks.”

“They should have at least a mayor or representative from each village in the room or noticed so people don't panic.”

“Yep...heard it too..thought the kids were popping homemade cannons.”

Local action group Prutehi Guahan also weighed in, writing in part on their social media:

“Some landowners with ranches up north received letters offering $1,500 for the DoD to limit access and enter properties for testing. The letters did not include dates for missile testing or documents related to ‘inspections’ of the properties without prior approval from landowners.”

Meantime, when asked if there was any advance public notice about the tests.

A spokesperson with the Missile Defense Agency told KUAM they determine that based on any potential dangers.

In this case, the MDA confirmed the space was cleared previously on Andersen Air Force Base, and notice was given to land owners, mariners and fishermen, and commercial and private aviation.

Officials added prior information on any missile test is kept “close hold” for security reasons, adding they’ve had incidents in the past where other nations and intelligence gathering vessels would observe a test.