NUFORC Sighting 27193

Occurred: 2002-12-07 23:30 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2003-01-21 03:38 Pacific
Duration: 1.5 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Sioux Falls, SD, USA

Shape: Teardrop
Characteristics: Left a trail

Have seen numerous objects over sky north of Sioux Falls in past few months.

First off let me say that I live near Sioux Falls but would like to remain anonymous. Still can't believe I'm telling this but here goes. Around 12/07/02, at approximately 2330 hours, I observed a very bright, tear drop shaped object, travel from north to south across the eastern sky in relation to my position. The odd thing was that it appeared to travel in an upwards direction and then blinked out of sight. Duration was approx. 1.5 seconds. It was bright white in color and the light tailed behind it or at least appeared to. It is difficult to say since it was travelling so fast. I first chalked it up to something skipping off our atmosphere. Which perhaps is true.

The thing is, I saw the same thing this past weekend, around 01/16/03, at approximately 0230 hours. This one was in the same general area of the sky as before. Except it appeared to travel upwards from south to north, ie: opposite direction.

I am not sure what I have been seeing, but these two are not the only strange objects I've seen in the sky recently. I work outside at night so I occasionally see objects. These have all caught my eyes as I have been driving. So at least to me they are very noticeable. They have all lasted long enough to get a reasonable look at them. At last eye exam I tested around 20/10, plus I have a stygmatism on top of that, so I'm correctable to even better. Since I spend most of my time in the hours of darkness, perhaps my eyes are more sensitive to movement and light in the sky, and I'm just seeing more of the junk that's hitting the atmosphere than most others can see. Who knows. I am a college educated professional. I have doubted this stuff, but man, when you see weird stuff you can't explain, it bothers you and you really can't tell anyone about it. Especially with what I do for a living, supposed to be the unflappable one. Some who read this will understand what I'm saying with that last statement and wanting to remain anonymous. Anyhow, I see this stuff probably at least once a week over the skies north of Sioux Falls, SD. I see meteorites almost nightly, so I generally notice when somethings a little different.

Well there you have it, hope this helps some people tell what they have seen. Reading the others on here helped me to do it. All I know is that there have to be more people like me, seeing this stuff and just not saying anything.

NUFORC Note:

Date is approximate. PD

Posted 2003-03-21