NUFORC Sighting 62333

Occurred: 2008-03-23 12:55 Local
Reported: 2008-03-24 19:46 Pacific
Duration: two to three mins.
No of observers: 1

Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA

Shape: Flash
Characteristics: Lights on object

Small flashing white light & large fast white oval......

On March 23, 2008 at approx 12:55 to 12:58 PM , while looking at various high altitude jets and the contrails I notice a small bright white object about estimate 15000 to 25,000ft? It was at 55 degrees to the horizon facing and moving SW to a NE direction heading over and towards the north slope of the Sandia Mountains north of the city limits of Albuquerque.

What I observed was what I though was a seagull or white bird catching thermals at a high altitude…the more I looked at it I notice a unusual side to side flight as if it was fluttering like a butterfly might fly. It was moving slow in a NE direction and notice it was blinking every one to three second intervals but at a location different from the other and no sound was heard, giving a fluttering appearance. At arms length the flash was the size of a button.

The sighting seem to last two to three minutes before it was beyond the horizon from my view. It was defiantly below the clouds and my guess is about the same altitude of private single or twin engine planes? I attempted to try and take photos with my cell phone but was unable to.

My second sighting was in August or September? of 1992? (unsure of date and year) on Albuquerque’s Westside at the apartment complex I was living at.

It was sunrise on a weekend and I witness a oval, white illumined almost like the moon glow at a 75 degree angle from the horizon going north to south behind one cloud to another going three to four times faster than a commercial jet. At arms length it was the size of a quarter with no sound. A couple also witnesses what I seen and I made the comment to them if it was a shooting star? And one of them said that they don’t think so! I am always watching the skies when ever I get a chance and I am very familiar with commercial, military and civilian aircraft as we have a Air force base and commercial and private airports near by.

Posted 2008-03-31