Strange metal orbs appear on Australian beach

Mysterious metal spheres discovered on an Australian beach are likely debris from a rocket that recently reentered Earth's atmosphere, according to the Australian Space Agency.

The Queensland fire department reported on Saturday that several potentially hazardous objects were found on Forrest Beach, in the northeast part of the country, and that the objects had been secured. The BBC reported that six of the objects were found.

At the time, the fire department said authorities were investigating the nature and origin of the debris and warned people to not touch any suspicious objects they might come across in the area.

People commenting on the fire department's Facebook post had plenty of joke suggestions for what the objects might be: a magic lamp with a genie inside, a giant sinker for fishing, or perhaps Spaceballs.

On Sunday, the Australian Space Agency said on social media that the objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle. Pressure vessels are containers designed to safely store pressurized gas or liquid.

"The Agency has identified the likely source," the space agency said. "The objects’ location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit."