NUFORC Sighting 31617

Occurred: 2002-05-01 21:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2003-09-19 23:48 Pacific
Duration: 3 Minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Chicago, IL, USA

Shape: Oval


Craft Orbiting the Moon...

Peter, When I started to hear what your guest saw, I knew it was EXACTLY what I saw thru my scope last year in the spring. I have a 4.5 reflector, observing the moon, which was in half-moon stage. I saw this object appear from the left... transit to the right and disappear into the dark portion side of the moon. I could see the object shining against the black of the moon, and followed it move to the right of the moon until it disappeared. I kept viewing the moon...astounded.. and the object reappeared again from the left and traveled across the face toward the right once more! This damned thing was ORBITING the moon! It must have been incredibly huge in order for me to have viewed it. It is described just as your guest had told. I could not discern a shape, just a dark silhouette on the bright side, and a sparkle of light on the dark side of the moon. From what I could tell, it wasn't in close orbit to the moon, it was some distance away from it. It would have to be in order for me to observe it.

I have been an amateur astronomer since a child, taught astronomy, and have spent countless hours observing the heavens. But I have never seen anything like this before or since. It too spooked me. I have told some people, but they dismiss it. I considered many factors such as a satellite, high flying birds, aircraft, but all do not "fit" in explanation. I have caught Earthbound objects in the eyepiece, highflying birds and planes, but one tell what they are immediately. But this unknown object behaved in a different manner. And as this thing was viewed twice in a span of three minutes, it must have been orbiting the moon very quickly.

There is something up there, but it "ain't" of human construction.

((name deleted; astronomy organization deleted))



NUFORC Note:

Date is approximate. PD


Posted 2003-09-24

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