NUFORC Sighting 30514

Occurred: 2003-08-02 12:30 Local
Reported: 2003-08-04 04:04 Pacific
Duration: 5 mins
No of observers: 1

Location: Stevenage (UK/England), , United Kingdom

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Aircraft nearby

A stationary light observed over Stevenage before it followed two other fast moving objects, one light and one hazy object.

At approximately 12.30 pm on Saturday 2nd August I was observing aircraft flying on final approach into Luton Airport (about 5-7 miles to end of runway). I was suddenly aware of a bright object in the sky at about 60 degrees from vertical from where I was standing and just slightly higher than the flight path to Luton. At first I thought that this was a silver child's balloon that may have been released by someone gathering at the nearby Knebworth Rock Festival (Robbie Williams). The sky was clear and sunny with only the jet streams of high civil aircraft breaking an otherwise cloudless sky. I carried on with what I was doing in the garden but kept looking back to see if I could see the light and each time I was able to find it, unmoved from the first location. I started to think that a balloon would have drifted out of sight by now and watched the light for a minute or so more when a second light drifted very slowly across from the direction of the Knebworth festival. This second light passed close to the first light before suddenly accelerating off in a North Easterly direction at a speed I could only guess to be in excess of 2000 mph. It was closely followed by what appeared to be a haze, or very small cloud travelling at the same speed. The first light then began to move before this too took of in the same direction at high speed. There was no noise associated with these objects. During this time I think at least two airliners were on final approach to Luton Airport, one of which appeared to be heading straight for the light before banking left to take up final approach to Luton, and I would say that the flight crew of this plane must have seen the stationary light. In a clear sky I could see high level passenger aircraft taking forever to cross the sky, speeds that were easily much slower than the objects I had seen. In addition, helecopters were going in and out of Knebworth all day and these objects were not helecopters. Coincidentally enough the following day, a school fete took place close to us where a number of silver (and blue and gold) style childs balloons were released into the sky and instantly it was clear to see that the movements of these balloons was completely different to the objects I had seen the previous day. The balloons also disappeared from vision a lot sooner than the lights I had seen which I had been able to see disappearing off into the distance a few miles away.

I have to draw conclusion that the mass gathering of 125,000 people at Knebworth for the Robbie Williams concert had something to do with the appearance of these objects, particularly as two of them were seen coming from that direction. They most certainly were not balloons, not high level airliners, not helecopters and not flares.

Personally, I am a currently unemployed Computer Programmer aged 39. I have lived at the same location for over 30 years. Stevenage is a town of some 110,000 population so I would be very surprised if no-one else saw at least the stationary light.

Posted 2003-08-04