NUFORC Sighting 04343

Occurred: 1998-08-03 21:29 Local
Reported: 1998-08-05 00:00 Pacific
Duration: ca. 2 min.
No of observers: 1

Location: Portland, OR, USA

Shape: Orb


Very bright steady blue-white light in sky over 3-5 deg. arc, steady movement over ene to wsw path, abruptly vanishing at "apex". No strobe or running light apparent.

Object observed 2129-2130 hours 3 August 1998 viewing east along Washington Street from SW corner of Broadway and Washington in Portland OR. Weather clear ca. 70 degrees F. light breeze from north. Object was very bright blue-white light, steady illumination (no variation in luminance or color). Object was size of small pea at the end of my arm. When I first noticed it, I thought it was an especially bright satellite given its steady tracking characteristics, but the object suddenly disappeared when it reached a position straight on from my observation point, and I also am not aware of many satellites in easterly to westerly orbits! As I could see no evidence of running lights or strobe, and I could hear no noise during the sighting or for two minutes after the object disappeared. It also did not appear to be in usual flight approach or departure lanes for PDX. I decided to report sighting as unknown. Track: appeared to be very high. About 4 degrees below a very bright star or planet (slightly less bright than the moving object), and about 80 deg. above horizon. Went through 3--5 deg. of arc in about 40 seconds. Sudden winkout at 90 degrees azimuth. I felt strange after seeing this. I thought I heard a couple behind me say "Oh, another sighting!" but no way did I want to talk to anyone about what I saw at the moment. Needless to say, I debated a long time before deciding to report this. I am a professional archaeologist trained in photointerpretation and physical observation techniques. On two other occasions I have seen odd high altitude night lights behaving in ways not characteristic of aircraft or satellites, but have not reported those. I also witnessed one of the Blue Book daylight unknowns in summer 1954 in Alcoa, Tennessee, along with several of my friends. I am interested professionally and personally in UFO subject. Would like to know if there were other observations of reported event. Or explanations!

Posted 1998-11-21

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