NUFORC Sighting 120509

Occurred: 2015-07-19 22:12 Local
Reported: 2015-07-19 23:40 Pacific
Duration: 2+ minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Shape: Circle
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Left a trail, Aircraft nearby

Yellowish orange, odd circular object observed over Santa Barbara, Ca.

Leaving Santa Barbara airport, watched aircraft on aprouch to land when daughter noticed a odd object some distance behind. At first thought it another plane. Object was circular, a yellowish orange color and much larger then plane on aprouch. As plane came in on glide slope to land, we noticed object drop straight down to about level of plane and get brighter as it got closer. After about 2 min., object then changed direction (without turn or other movement) and went east. We noticed a long comet like tail for several seconds before it quickly disapeared. A few minutes later we saw the object again towards northwest as we headed north on hwy 101. Object was higher in sky, brighter and quite large, about the size of a nickel held at arms length. Watched object for about twenty more seconds till clouds obscured it. Object was circular and brighter towards the edges. No navigation or other lights observed. Very odd looking thing.

Posted 2015-07-23