NUFORC Sighting 71476

Occurred: 2009-08-03 21:30 Local
Reported: 2009-08-03 19:08 Pacific
Duration: 30
No of observers: 5

Location: Ocean Isle, NC, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Orange Lights in Southern Sky near Ocean Isle, NC

Four orange lights appeared in the southern sky around 9:30, in a pattern similar to that of the big dipper's bowl. The two on the left went out 2 seconds later. The 2 on the right went out shortly afterward. They did not have an arc indicative of a flare or firework, or anything else not under its own power. We stood there watching for a while, bemused. A few minutes later one appeared and disappeared then another right beside it, which seemed to move horizontally in the sky. Then we saw two come on at once, then the left one would disappear followed by the right. This pattern repeated itself with the lights, never losing altitude, though one looked like it shifted at a 45 degree angle downward and to the east, stopped for a moment, and then disappeared. We watched this go on for 30 minutes and then nothing.

We did see the blinking lights of several aircraft, also in the southern sky around the lights, but could not discern the 3-dimensionality of it (ie: if they were right next to them or some distance away).

Posted 2009-08-05