NUFORC Sighting 12582

Occurred: 2000-04-06 21:08 Local
Reported: 2000-04-10 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 5-10 seconds
No of observers: 2

Location: San Antonio, TX, USA

Shape: Light

appeared first as dim satellite, gradually becoming very bright, and finally dimming until no longer seen

At 9:08 in the evening my wife and I were stargazing when we noticed at first what appeared to be a satellite moving steadily, but then increasingly becoming very bright; about an inch at arms length,and lasting several seconds. Finally the bright object began to dim until it disappeared seeming to be moving upward into space. It could not have been an airplane because there weren't any blinking lights, or sound. The light from the object was sharp, and intense.

((

NUFORC Note:

The report sounds reminiscent of the flash that can be caused by an Iridium satellite. Our thanks to Lexy for having researched the issue, and reported her findings back to NUFORC. She has discovered that this report possibly is consistent with an Iridium satellite. Her message to NUFORC is shown below:

BEGIN MESSAGE))

Hi Peter
> The cases below were selected because the witnesses described the objects as
> satellites that did something with light (pulsed, flared, etc.)-prime
> candidates for flares. Both cases matched with flare data. I'll go ahead and
> look for this kind of prime data-selecting what to me appear to be prime
> flare cases.
> Iridium flare cases:
> There are two hits on Iridium flares between 4/1/2000 and 4/14/2000.
> 1) NUFORC posting: 4/6/00 San Antonio Texas 21:08
> Satellite #17: 4/6/00 at 21:07 flared in northern sky over San Antonio,
> Texas
> with a -4 magnitude flare (very bright) at 30 degees altitude.
> 2) NUFORC posting: 4/9/00 Temple City California 20:00
> Satellite #42: 4/9/00 at 20:12 flared in northen sky over Temple City,
> with a -3 magnitude flare at 34 degrees altitude.
> Cheers, Lexy
> Note: The times given are from the location of witness.

END MESSAGE))

Posted 2000-04-26