NUFORC Sighting 28915

Occurred: 2003-05-23 23:35 Local
Reported: 2003-05-24 15:53 Pacific
Duration: 2 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Havre, MT, USA

Shape: Formation
Characteristics: Lights on object

I saw what was either a craft shaped like a triangle, or three seperate crafts, flying in formation.

I was watching the sky last night, as it was a very clear and nice night out to be star gazing. (I was waiting for my husband to come home from work, and after that, he was going to stop at the grocery store. He worked until 11:00 PM.)I saw something move in the sky.(Which was not too unusual, there seemed to be a lot of what must have been satellites moving around everywhere, last night.) I saw what looked to be one craft, high in the sky, moving down directly South. It appeared to be three white lights formed in a triangle, moving together perfectly.

It moved really fast, faster than the airplanes that I see coming in from a far distance, and the lights stayed steady, no blinking or changing colors. I heard no sound, but it was pretty far away. (We are about a mile away from the airport, and see a lot of planes coming and going.) My dog was outside with me, and did not act any different than usual.

It slowed down a lot when it came down further from the sky, and started heading North-East. I was not looking through a telescope or binoculars or anything, I just had my glasses on. It seemed at one point, that maybe there were actually three lights, as one or more would move a little, but it was very hard to tell.

I have no idea what this was, but it was so different from the lights I normally see. If it was indeed one craft, it must have been pretty big.

I was still watching when my husband came home, and was knocking at the front door. (I was on the back steps, with the back door open.) I had to leave to go open and un-lock the front door for him, and when I came back, I could not find them. I just kept thinking about them (Or it..) today, and thought maybe I should report it in case someone else saw what I did. I saw a jet today, and thought of how slow it was moving compared to what I saw last night. I asked my husband how fast he thought it was going,(The jet today.) and he said about 600 MPH.( I think that is what he said.) ---> (If you publish my report, please do not post this next part, thanks.)I have sent you a report before, and never sent you the picture, as the picture showed nothing of significance, sorry, and I felt foolish at that point. I hope you still count this report. Thank you. ((name deleted))

((FOLL0W-UP CORRESPONDENCE WITH WITNESS))

Dear Mrs. ((deleted)),

Thank you very much for the excellent report!

A few questions, if I may... It sounds from your report as though you are quite certain of the time, is that correct?

Also, where were the lights, relative to your position, please? Were they to the north of your position, to the south, or overhead, please?

At first, I was suspicious that you might have seen the International Space Station passing overhead, but on Friday night, May 23rd, it would have been directly overhead your town, and it flew over at 10:44 p.m., not 11:35 p.m.. To see its ground track over Havre, MT, please see the following website:

http://www.heavens-above.com/gtrack.asp?date=37765.1999230397&lat=48.550&lng=-109.683&alt=762&loc=Havre&TZ=MST&satid=25544

If the object you witnessed was not the ISS, I do not know what you witnessed.

Thank you again for sharing the information with our Center!!

Cordially,

Peter

((RESPONSE))

Peter,

Thank you for responding.

Yes, I am very certain of the time. I looked at the clock when I came through the kitchen, to unlock the front door for my husband.

The lights started out directly overhead my back steps, up high in the sky. The back of my house, where I was on the steps, faces South. They gradually started to curve slightly to the east. The back steps are facing south. I will scan a drawing of its movement.

I actually had to lay down on the top of the back steps, to watch them better as they descended down. (It was hard to crane my neck at that position sitting upright, until they came down much farther.) I am unsure of how to tell you position coordinates. I live approximately four miles west of Havre. The night was very clear. I saw no clouds at all.

Also, it was not a perfect triangle, it was more of an isosceles triangle. It was sideways, with the top point of it facing left. Also, I would say the size of one of the lights, was about the size of the airplanes I see from a far distance.

I drove to Fort Assinaboine, thinking that maybe that would help in directions for you. It is 4.3 miles almost directly south of us.

Thank you for the link. The picture will not load for me, but I am glad to be able to know about this site. I had no idea how many satellites there were!

Please let me know if I can answer any more questions you may have. I hope the drawing comes up okay.

~Thanks again~

((END CORRESPONDENCE))

NUFORC Note:

We, at first, thought the witness might have been witness to the International Space Station, which did pass over Havre, MT, that night, but at 22:35 hrs. (MDT). We do not know what it was she witnessed. PD

Posted 2003-05-27