NUFORC Sighting 125691

Occurred: 2015-02-03 20:15 Local
Reported: 2016-02-07 10:28 Pacific
Duration: 10 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

Shape: Orb
Characteristics: Emitted beams

Amber Orb with Beam

Approximately around 20:15 PM on 2/3/2015, while setting up my telescope mount to align to the star, Sirius, for a imaging session of the Cone Nebula in the constellation Monoceros, I noticed a bright amber object in the eastern sky, about 35 degrees up from the horizon, and 30 degrees north of the star, Sirius. The object was visible before its first movement, and remained stationary for 5 seconds .

The object then projected a beam about one half its diameter that extend out about 5 degrees. It then moved to the end of the Beam. It remained stationary for about 2 seconds. It then displayed another beam approximately 5 degrees and then vanished. I went in the house to get my night-vision camcorder. After returning from the house with the camcorder, nothing was in the sky. I was out several times to check on my imaging setup and never noticed anymore activity. The imaging session lasted for about 3 hours.

It is important to note that I have been imaging objects in the sky for over 10 years. Objects such as the moon, galaxies, Comets, star cluster, ISS, planes, jets and nebulas. I am familiar with what a satellite looks like, as well as a meteorite or comet.

This was not a Chinese lantern, comet, flare, meteorite etc.

PS: The object was moving upto the right at about 15 degrees and the beam it projected was very linear unlike an arching/tapering trail of a comet or meteorite. The beam was also consistent in width; it did not taper.

Posted 2016-02-11