NUFORC Sighting 10174

Occurred: 1999-10-08 23:15 Local
Reported: 1999-10-10 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 2 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Detroit Lakes (18 miles east of), MN, USA

Shape: Triangle

Triangular Formation of 3 lights moving at the speed and appearance of satelites.The center blocked out stars as it moved from West/NW to South/SE

MY wife and I have a weekend cabin 18 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN. It is isolated from all city lights as it is located in the Minnesota lakes country. On Oct. 8th, 1999 at 11:15PM My wife and I were outside in the backyard looking for satelites and shooting stars. The sky was very clear. I first thought I saw a satelite, but noticed there were 3 lights moving in a triangle. I showed it to my wife to make sure she saw the same thing. They were moving at the speed and brightness of a satelite. It was fairly large and moving at a steady speed.The center of the three lights would block out background stars,as it moved from West/Northwest to South/Southeast.It is very quiet in the woods as we have no close neighbors. There was no sound at all, we can hear commercial airliners at very high altitudes when it is that still and quiet. After about 2 to 3 minutes the lights disappered.

NUFORC Note:

These satellites may be U. S. Navy satellites, flying in formation. The same type of phenomenon was reported to us during August and September 1996, and Mr. Terence Dickinson, astronomy journalist for the Toronto (Canada) Star newspaper, apparently was able to identify their origin.

Posted 1999-10-19