NUFORC Sighting 25681

Occurred: 2002-10-17 19:13 Local
Reported: 2002-10-18 11:15 Pacific
Duration: 2-3 sec.
No of observers: 2

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Shape: Unknown
Characteristics: Lights on object

Peculiar, shapeless object with several distinct lights seen streaking over Greenlake Park in Seattle.

I was walking around Greenlake with a friend, when I proposed that we stop at an appropriate point on the paved path we were on to attempt to observe the overflight of the Space Shuttle and the International Space Shuttle, which I knew were scheduled to occur at approximately 19:09 and 19:13 hrs., respectively. The Space Shuttle, Atlantis, had undocked from the Space Station, and the Shuttle was several minutes ahead of the Station, preparing to return to Cape Kennedy on the following day (October 18, 2002).

As we stood, scanning the evening sky to the west, searching for the Space Station, both of us witnessed a peculiar object STREAKING across the sky, covering an estimated 10-15 degrees of arc (from our vantage point), traveling from our right to left, in approximately 2-3 seconds. The object appeared to have several point sources of light on it, perhaps 3 to 5 of them, each approximately the color of a green LED, and it subtended an arc of approximately one-half a degree, i.e. equal approximately to the width of a thumbnail held at arm's length. At just about the time both observers commented on the object's appearance, it just faded from our vision in approximately 1 second, or less. It appeared to travel at a constant angular velocity throughout the sighting, i.e. it did not appear to slow.

Since it was just past dusk at the time, the object was not easily visible to us, except for its lights, although it appeared to have "structure." During the short time we witnessed it, the several lights on the side facing us (its port side) did not appear to change position relative to each other. Both witnesses were left with the distinct impression that they were looking at some kind of unidentifiable, solid object.

The object's high angular velocity across the sky rules out any type of conventional aircraft. Any aircraft moving across the sky at that angular velocity would have had to be close enough to the observers that its engine(s) would have been easily audible. I have held a commercial pilot's license for over 25 years (flight instructor for 10 of those years), and the object was strikingly unlike anything I have ever witnessed.

We discussed whether the object might have been a fragmented meteor in the extreme distance, following its terminal burst in the lower atmospere. However, both observers felt that what they had witnessed was not consistent with such a scenario; there appeared to be some kind of "structure" between the lights of the object.

We do not know what we witnessed, but it was a striking image.

Submitted by Peter B. Davenport, Director, National UFO Reporting Center.

NUFORC Note:

The second witness may submit his report at a future date. PD

Posted 2002-10-28