NUFORC Sighting 30458

Occurred: 2003-07-20 02:00 Local
Reported: 2003-07-31 16:26 Pacific
Duration: 2 min.
No of observers: 1

Location: Cotate, CA, USA

Shape: Flash
Characteristics: Lights on object

Written report submitted via USPS, and copied here:

"Dear Peter, I want to report to you what has to be a UFO sighting (or gov.?) on Sunday night, July 20, '03 at about 02:00 a.m.. I guess that makes it Monday morning.

I live in California due east of the small town of Cotate in Sonoma county. It is betewwn Santa Rosa on the north & Petaluma on the south, off Highway 101. We live up on the side of Sonoma Mt. at 1,700 ft., 3 miles NNW of the mt. top. It's about 23 mi. from the ocean.

I stepped out on the deck at 01:45 and was looking at the sky--some clouds & having had about 200 drops of rain!! I could see stars between the clouds. Looking west at (on clear days we can see the ocean--not lately tho') I saw a flashing light & watched it to see if it was an approaching airplane. It seemed to not move, then seemed to come closer & too bright & big for even a large plane. I am 5' 2" tall & holding my fist at arms length it was about 20 deg. above my level, and about 30 deg. south of west. At its closest at arm's length it was about 3/16" diam. (at least). I could see no form except the horizontal flashing including a green on the south side. It flashed about every second then in an instant (less of course) it moved right a fist (extended) length & then appeared below about 1/2 a fist. Then back to the original position. It did this a few times with out my seeing it move. Just appeared. Then another appeared, maybe a fist to the left.

They alternated rapid flashing, then synchronized maybe 3 x's, then alternated again & the 2nd one was gone without visible movement. (Both look alike.) The first began to move north slowly with a few more erratic appearances & then went slowly, flashing, to the north & west getting smaller until I couldn't see it for the trees? Time of viewing...?? That's a hard on...a guess is a few minutes.

I have seen other flashing lights farther away & a bit brighter than stars that were probably UFO's...not a plane One was erratic in movement but I sort of doubted my eyes afterwards. This time I had the edge of the umbrella as a steady point. Great stuff! Thanks for all your good work.

((name and contact data deleted))

P. S. I am 77 years old & of sound mind. And hope to continue to be! Which you may now doubt since I put the stamp on the envelope to open it upside down."

NUFORC Note:

Witness illustrates how the thin, disc-shaped object appeared to "jump" in a triangular, clockwise pattern. PD

Posted 2003-08-01