NUFORC Sighting 07137

Occurred: 1999-04-18 23:00 Local
Reported: 1999-04-28 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 20-30 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Ventura, CA, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object

Four white lights perfectly aligned and moving horizontally.

When first viewed, 4 white lights (approximately the brightness of stars) with a dimmer red blinking light between the 2 center lights, were moving slowly north. They would stop then move laterally for a few seconds. They would again move forward, then hover, and move sideways. I went inside to get my binoculars, and to dress warmer, when I returned some 8-10 minutes later, the 2 outside lights had moved. One out of my sight, the other was closer to me and very close to the horizon. It had gotten very bright. A minute or so later, this light moved vertically at a high velocity and stopped instantly. It appeared higher than the two remaining lights (with the red between) which seemed farther off too. I estimate the elevation to be about 5,000 ft, if so the light that shot vertically was travelling around 700 mph. They all eventually moved south and lower until they were out of my sight. I don't think these lights were helicopters, airplanes, or stars (I compared the lights positions to other objects in the night sky including stars and trees). So what is left? Was this one object with four parts, or four objects anchored together at first?

Posted 1999-05-24