Occurred: 2002-05-12 22:14 Local
Reported: 2002-05-13 18:40 Pacific
Duration: 20-25 seconds
No of observers: 2

Location: Long Beach, CA, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Left a trail, Changed Colo

Fast moving orange sky jumping, spark trail, disappearing, reappearing flying object on 5/12/02, 22:00-22:14pm

My son and I were star gazing Saturday night. We were sitting outside in my jeep wrangler, the top was down. It was a very clear night & the stars were out. I first noticed the object directly above me. I thought it was a satellite passing over like it did the night before, but this time it was different. The night before it was a solid orange glow moving in a straight descent heading north. Saturday night, it was the same color, but changed. It moved very quickly, showing itself, then fading out with a light spark trail to darkness then appears again. It moved across the sky like someone playing "skipping rock " on the water surface, only this was in the sky. The big dipper was toward my right side ( north ), I was facing west & looking directly above me. I focused on the object, following it to descern any shape. I did notice I could see it agains the black night when it stopped emitting the orange glow. I turned dark gray, light then glowed orange again. I am not sure if it was a jet, or fighter jet or not but I do not believe it was a satellite. The object was apprx 20, 000 feet or more ..distance equivalent to watching a passing jet. My son thought it to be a fireball or comet crossing the sky's path. Did anyone else notice anything like it? Thanks.

Posted 2002-05-14

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