It was most certainly terrestrial in origin. Russia claims it was the result of a failed missile test, where the third stage blew a hole in the side of its engine nozzle, causing it to spin. But the way the light was, if it wasn't that, it was most certainly projected from somewhere on Earth.
Betelgeuse will probably be first. Scientists believe it will go supernova within 1,000 years...if it hasn't done so already. It won't pose a danger since its polar axis isn't pointed toward us (they say that would put us at risk of a gamma ray burst), but it will be so hugely bright that it...