NUFORC Sighting 33036

Occurred: 1996-10-10 22:00 Local
Reported: 2003-11-12 08:49 Pacific
Duration: 5 min
No of observers: 10

Location: Charleston, SC, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object

Flashing object above Charleston, SC

My friends and I were gathered in a courtyard of an apartment complex in downtown Charleston. Being downtown among all the streetlights, only the brightest stars are visible. I was reclining on a lounge chair when I noticed a light flash above the roof of the complex. It seems odd that it flashed just once and was gone. I stared at that spot for a few moments and then it flashed again, about 5 degrees from the original spot. This continued and I started counting between flashes. Each interval was a full 15 seconds! This contined all the way across the sky and by the time it reached the opposite roof of the courtyard, everyone was looking up at the sky.

I walked outside the complex and watched it until it disappeared behind a building next door. I thought it was very strange because it wasn't moving fast enough to be a satellite and aircraft lights usually stay on continuously.

I spoke to my father about it and 2 years later he and my brother saw the same thing above the Blue Ridge Mountains while observing Saturn with a amateur telescope.

He tried to focus the telescope in the object but could not.

Posted 2003-11-26