NUFORC Sighting 83904

Occurred: 2011-09-13 19:30 Local
Reported: 2011-09-13 20:05 Pacific
Duration: 1.5 sec
No of observers: 2

Location: Cathedral City, CA, USA

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

We saw what appeared to be a hovering fireball

My wife and I were driving home in Cathedral City, California at dusk; it was cloudy and drizzling. We noticed an orange/yellow spot of light up ahead that grew in intensity then faded back, all within about 1.5 seconds. We aren't certain whether the light disappeared behind the clouds, or if it faded to black. I can only guess the distance and altitude: I'm guessing between 50 and 100 miles away, and perhaps 1,000 to 10,000 feet altitude. I plotted the course on google earth, and the path went through Lucerne Valley.

I am an avid rocketeer, and I launch rockets at Lucerne dry lake with the club I belong to, but this didn't look like a rocket- it seemed to stay at the same altitude. I AM certain this was not a firework. I'm now disturbed, because I didn't have a clue where to report this until I googled it and found this site, and now I see that others have seen the same thing!! I hope it doesn't turn out to be something un-spectacular.

Posted 2011-10-10