NUFORC Sighting 04288

Occurred: 1998-07-24 01:40 Local
Reported: 1998-07-24 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 10 SECONDS
No of observers: 1

Location: Portland, ME, USA

Shape: Other

As I looked to the northern sky as I stepped from my car, I looked up into a constellation of stars. Soon thereafter, it was if one of the stars picked up and travelled southward and then pulled a 'J' hook towards the East. The object was as tiny and appeared reddish in color. The object moved at a steady pace across the sky. It did not make a sound, nor leave any trail like a shooting star. It travelled slower than a shooting star, and faster than a plane or helicopter, without any noise.

The evening began with me discussing certain unexplained philosphical phenomena with two other people. I took the angle of the scientific observer. I wanted proof of the 'religious' nature of the universe as the people I was talking to exclaimed to exist. I have always had a week spot in me for the unexplained, but yet, I have never really experienced anything that strayed me from the scientific and the provable. Yet tonight, as I came home, parked my car in the driveway, I looked up to a remarkably clear sky. I focused on a constellation, I'm not sure which, and, all of a sudden, a star like object began to move across the sky, starting in this constellation. I watched it travel in my direction, although it was completely at a great distance. It was if one of the stars just picked up and decided to move. I watched it move across the sky at a fairly rapic pace without changing course. Then it pulled a 'J' manoever in the sky. It began moving to the southeast and then the east and then partially toward the north. It did not leave a trail in the evening sky nor did it make a sound as it travelled. It did not blink like an airplane wing light. It did not shoot across the sky like a shooting star, of which I've seen thousands. It was very deliberate yet quick across the sky. I've seen satellites which moved slower and continued on a straight line. This object curved in a 'J' motion. I was cradled in my driveway by trees towards the southern end and it eventually disappeared behind the trees. I wish I could say that I was under the influence but I wasn't. The thing appeared and travelled like nothing I have ever seen in the sky before, and I spend a lot of time looking at the sky in Maine, where you receive more than the fair share of night time entertainment. This wasn't what is ordinarily in my sky.

Posted 1998-11-21