NUFORC Sighting 29559

Occurred: 2002-12-15 21:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2003-07-06 12:53 Pacific
Duration: 1.5 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA

Shape: Light

Just happened to be in the backyard looking up and saw a bright pinpoint of light. Very high up, probably above the atmosphere. It's size was undeterminable due to its height. It moved from a Northeast to Southwest direction at an alarming rate of speed. I am an amateur star gazer/sky wathcer and I know what a satellite looks like moving across the night sky. I don't know of any satellites that move from East to West, and I've never seen a sattelite moving this fast before. It crossed the portion of sky visible to me (120 degrees) in less than 45 seconds. There was no sound nor any streak or trail behind it. I followed it until it disappeared over the trees. My best explanation other than some kind of vehicle would be a meteor that passed close to Earth, but I saw no reports either way. I am uncertain about the date and/or time, and had I known there was a website, I would have reported when it happened. I know it was late in the year 2002 and that it was around 8:00 pm. It was nearly directly overhead but just slightly Southwest.

NUFORC Note:

Date is approximate. PD

Posted 2003-07-16