NUFORC Sighting 45480

Occurred: 2005-07-29 20:10 Local
Reported: 2005-08-06 04:47 Pacific
Duration: 30 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Topeka, KS, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Stationary light, quickly moving away

At dusk, I was walking down my driveway and happened to notice what I thought was a planet or bright star in the northern sky above the trees.

Owning and frequently using a telescope as an amateur astronomer, and recognizing that nothing should be in this portion of the sky, I stopped and looked trying to figure out what it was. As I watched, the light began to oscilate or twinkle, then quickly grew smaller, until it could not be seen.

I was somewhat stunned, but it appeared that whatever it was moved directly away from me at amazing speed. The object was white as a planet or star, and as large as venus when it is low in the sky.

I am a male, 47, professional, and enjoy watching the nightime sky. I have seen many things in the sky, with most easily being explained as meteortites, satalights, planes, or other conventional aircraft.

This event was unique, and quite puzzling due to the objects speed of travel. Seeing that it was dusk, the suns rays could have still been refracting into the sky, but the light source was not consistent with a reflection. There were other stars visible in the sky during and after the event, and several seconds after it disappeared two high flying aircraft moved into the area, but left.

Posted 2005-09-15