NUFORC Sighting 49325

Occurred: 2006-02-22 00:20 Local
Reported: 2006-02-27 21:22 Pacific
Duration: 4 min
No of observers: 1

Location: Binghamton (40 South of KBGM), NY, USA

Shape: Unknown

FL340 40NM South of KBGM

While Flying at FL340 (34000) Westbound on a flight plan from KLGA to KMCI (New York, LGA Airport to Kansas City, MCI) performing duties associated with my job as a First Officer, I noticed a very large strobe at my three O'clock position and at an altitude approximately 20 to 30 thousand feet above us tracking SSW. No object outline was seen. Its apparent speed was slow, but in a South Direction.

Object "strobed" approximately once every 7 seconds, as it moved in what appeared a straight line. I asked the Captain if he could see what I saw, but from his seating position in the aircraft, and the height of the sighting, he could not, and did not get out of his seat. We turned down the "DU"s...(Data display units) in the aircraft to rule out any reflections from inside the cockpit. I called NY Center and asked them if they had any traffic or military traffic 20 to 30 thousand feet above and behind us and he indicated that he only had a Falcon Jet behind us going North... "Center" asked other aircraft in our general area, if they could see any other traffic on their TCAS, or visually if they had any other reports. I think we were talking to NY Center, as our position was about 40NM south of KBGM (Binghampton, NY). As the object passed above and behind us, I was indicating to the Captain where to look out his rear Clearview window to see the object. He did not see it, as we were flying Westbound and the object was proceeding Southbound. We were out of range visually.

All Aircraft reported nothing. I think they asked Southwest and American, and possibly United. At the end of the sighting the time was 0020 Zulu or about 19:20 Eastern Time local. I don't believe it was a satellite, as the sun was down, and satellites dont have strobes. I have not run Nova Satellite prediction software, so I don't know if satellites were in the area. http://www.nlsa.com/index.html Air Traffic Controller indicated that he was not surprised at the sighting as he receives them from time to time.

To Clarify: In my report I refer to "object". I could see no object just a visible strobe. No position lights.

I also thought when I first saw the strobe that it could be a distant star going supernovae. Just a thought, as I was trying to figure out what it was.

END.

NUFORC Note:

We spoke with this witness via telephone, and he seemed to us to be an excellent witness. PD

Posted 2006-03-11