NUFORC Sighting 60250

Occurred: 2007-12-08 20:00 Local
Reported: 2007-12-09 12:32 Pacific
Duration: three - five minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Carpinteria/Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Shape: Unknown
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object, Left a trail, Changed Colo

Highly luminos object seen in Santa Barbara area with very high acceleration capability.

Highly luminous object seen moving in an E x NE - W x SW flight track, speed unknown, altitude FL600 minimum. Object had a VERY long reddish-orange glowing contrail(re-entry trail?) that from ground level I would estimate was in the neighborhood of two(2) kilometers maximum length. Object lost glowing trail after a short time but luminosity did not wane. At first object was thought to be a meteor re-entry but upon continued observation a 'very' faint blinking light could be seen (navigation light?).

Object continued course track for a short time and then quickly changed direction to a NW flight track. Object emitted what I can only describe as a 'pearl colored, luminous, nebulous, atmospheric phenomenon' of a rough diamond shape with a small glowing white center(It reminded me of a mach shockwave that can be seen when supersonic jets approach the sound barrier). Object then abruptly accelerated at a VERY high rate of speed on NW flight track over the Pacific Ocean. I can only speculate the rate of acceleration, but would estimate in neighborhood of mach20+. Atmospheric phenomenon was observed to linger and hold its shape for approximately 20 seconds before slowly dissipating.

Event occurred in the following area: 34°30'15.38"N 119°29'52.86"W x 34°17'38.56"N 119°59'41.32"W

Posted 2008-03-04