NUFORC Sighting 153372

Occurred: 2020-02-17 05:20 Local
Reported: 2020-02-17 09:38 Pacific
Duration: >15 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Modesto, CA, USA

Shape: Orb
Characteristics: Lights on object

2 stationary bright star-like white lights seen in a pair that then faded simultaneously in about 15 seconds.

I went outside at 5:20 AM. It was a dark sky. I immediately noticed 2 bright stationary star-like white lights (brighter than any other star or planet then visible) at about 10 degrees west of straight up or at an altitude angle of 80 degrees from the Western horizon. The lights were aligned in North and South direction and were spaced about 4 to 6 diameters of the moon (2 to 3 degrees) apart. The moon was quarter crescent. They then faded out beyond visibility within about 15 seconds at the same time as if there were coordinated.

I thought I should report this because it is the second time I have noticed this same type of event. About a year ago in the Spring I saw the same thing happen with a pair of star-like white lights in the evening about 8:30 PM at an altitude angle of about 45 degrees above the North horizon. Those lights were spaced about the same and were aligned East West.

Maybe these were both satellites but they must have been in high orbit because they did not move perceptively. I have found references to Iridium Satellite flares being seen in pairs but they were moving fast enough to leave a streak in the photo taken of them.

http://www.astropix.com/images2/beginner/iridium_flares.jpg I have seen many satellites in low Earth and they move quite quickly. These object seemed to not move at all.



Posted 2020-02-25

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