NUFORC Sighting 81762

Occurred: 2011-06-14 00:10 Local
Reported: 2011-06-13 23:43 Pacific
Duration: 1 minute
No of observers: 1

Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA

Shape: Unknown
Characteristics: Lights on object

5-6 amber colored lights flying in formation.

While driving home from work, from Bloomington to Indianapolis, I noticed 5 to 6 individual amber colored lights in formation. As they passed my car, the formation was maintained, but it wasn't a formation that is consistent to the military as it was very lose and not in line.

The route I take from work is State Route 37 (northbound). Normally on my return trip home there are aircraft on the left (west) side of the road flying the approach pattern into the Indianapolis International Airport (KIND). As a private pilot, I am very aware of the orientation of the lights on aircraft. This was unlike anything I have ever seen.

Before the sighting, I noticed what appeared to be a shooting star going to the right, or east side, of the road. Whether this has any connection to the sighting or not is unclear. After driving for about 2-4 minutes I noticed the lights through the trees on the same side of the road as the shooting star.

Thinking that it look rather odd, I continued looking in the direction until I passed by a field where there was a clearing in the trees. I was about 10-15 miles from the city at this time.

At that point, I could clearly see that there were 5-6 amber colored lights, almost in a Z formation. I tried to take a picture with my cell phone camera but the lights were too faint to show up. They appeared to be traveling southbound and I could not tell at what altitude, as there was no prospective on what I was seeing. As they passed to the right of me, each light faded from the first to last and I couldn't see them anymore. As I was looking, I noticed there was a cloud that was illuminated by the moon so i kept watch until I spotted them again. They were no longer emitting any light, but I could see specks in contrast to the illuminated cloud. They were not connected in any way, and were independant of each other.

After realizing what i had seen, and the close relationship with landing aircraft, I did contact the TSA office at KIND. They said that there had been no reports of anything that I was describing and that it would be noted.

Posted 2011-06-20