NUFORC Sighting 132978

Occurred: 2017-03-04 20:10 Local
Reported: 2017-03-04 17:33 Pacific
Duration: 2:00 minutes
No of observers: 5

Location: Donaldsonville, GA, USA

Shape: Light

High speed orange light observed from northeast of Donaldsonville, GA, to southwest.

Bright orange light first spotted northeast of our campsite and was traveling southwest bound at constant high rate of speed. The object was first spotted approximately 10 degrees above the horizon and continued to be visible until it was approximately 10 degrees above the southwest horizon! No sound was noticed as it passed by nor several minutes after it passed.

There were five sober adult witnesses to the object! Including three Law Enforcement Officers!

((ADDENDUM FROM WITNESS))

This is a supplement to my original report made on 03/04/2017.

Several important things came to mind. Myself, as well as the other witnesses with me, enjoy spotting satellites while camping! This is often done with the aid of the iPod app SkyView, as well as the Sky View Satellite guide!

When this object was noticed, we all commented on how different it was, compared to a normal sighting of a satellite. The object was faster, brighter, and maintained the same intensity in illumination during the entire observation, from approximately 10 degrees above the northeast horizon, over our location, to about 10 degrees above the southwest horizon. Most satellites will get brighter or dimmer, depending on its relationship to the earth and sun! The moon that night was about half full but the object was still very visible!

My wife was able to orient her IPad in the direction of the object, but no satellite was noted on her app! I know that not all satellites may be allowed to appear on this app, as well as all space junk (rocket bodies)!

NUFORC Note:

We spoke via telephone with the witness, who works in law enforcement, and we found him to be sincere and sober-minded. He added that all of the witnesses are skilled at observing satellites passing overhead, and that the object had a distinctly orange appearance to it. We have corrected the date above, to reflect a sighting on March 04, 2017, which is the date the witness intended. PD

Posted 2017-03-10