NUFORC Sighting 31040

Occurred: 2003-08-31 00:20 Local
Reported: 2003-08-31 01:03 Pacific
Duration: 0031
No of observers: 7

Location: Montebello, CA, USA

Shape: Circle
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Emitted beams

Brilliant glowing red "star" in the sky that was no identifiable aircraft and moved before vanishing

We first noticed a very brilliant glowing red "star" in the southwest sky (about 60 degrees to the horizon) at about 12:20 am Sunday morning. It was very, very high in the sky and it was obviously not an aircraft. At first we thought it was Mars, but we later located Mars at a different location from the glowing red object. It was stationary for almost the entire duration while we were watching it, and then it started moving northerly and then disappeared all of a sudden. It did not leave any trails in the sky but faded in and out a couple of times before disappearing. It was extremely bright and very red. We are absolutely positive it was not an aircraft due to the apparent extreme altitude, shape, and movement.

Posted 2003-09-04