NUFORC Sighting 39189

Occurred: 2004-09-06 22:05 Local
Reported: 2004-09-08 17:33 Pacific
Duration: 5 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Littleton, CO, USA

Shape: Other

Diffuse coherent ghostlike object seen rapidly crossing night sky.

The object passed almost directly overhead from northwest to southeast, covering an arc distance of approximately 50 degrees in approximately 5 seconds. This appeared to be at a very high altitude. The most notable feature of this object was its ghostlike nature. It appeared similar to a telescopic view of a nebula and had a diameter of about 15 minutes - about half that of the lunar/solar disk. It was very faint but distinct. I was enjoying the crystal clear dark sky on the Labor Day evening. I don't think I would have noticed it otherwise, but I happened to be looking straight up at the time just as it passed across my line of sight. I followed it until I lost sight of it to the southeast at about 45 degrees elevation. It was not pointlike like a meteor and was not brilliant like a fireball. It was a diffuse, ghostly object that swiftly passed overhead. I have never seen anything remotely similar to this. I report it here because it was astounding and I couldn't identify this flying object.

Posted 2004-09-09