NUFORC Sighting 38547

Occurred: 2004-08-06 22:15 Local
Reported: 2004-08-09 15:26 Pacific
Duration: 15 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Huntsville, AL, USA

Shape: Light

Bright light moving and fading to dark, like high altitude rocket thruster, seen briefly near Cassiopea.

While stargazing on said night with friend, friend went inside for few minutes. We had been gazing at Casseopia, and a light in that direction caught my eye. A few degrees SW of the "center" of Casseopia, it had not been there moments before. It was a little brighter than Mars had been at its closest approach to Earth, but white. Startled to see a "planet" where one shouldn't be, I observed the light begin to slowly fade after 4 or 5 seconds, making me wonder if I had happened to observe a nova. I desperately wanted my friend to get back out there! The light then began to make a slow arc of a few degrees, counter-clockwise, continuing to fade until it stopped moving/faded from view after about 10 seconds. Maybe terrestrial, but sure looked like a high altitude rocket thrust...any reports of U.S. tests?

Posted 2004-08-11