NUFORC Sighting 08632

Occurred: 1999-08-11 21:45 Local
Reported: 1999-08-11 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 4 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Cortez (4 miles north of), CO, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Saw light traveling from Southwest to Northeast. It was approximately 60 degrees above the horizon from first sight across the sky till disappeared.

We observed a bright white circle of light coming from the Southwest traveling directly overhead toward the Northeast at about a 60 degree angle off the horizon. It began to vary in intensity from bright white to almost invisible in regular three-second intervals until it was no longer visible. Its intensity was constant until it passed overhead, then began to dim and brighten in regular intervals when it passed through the Milky Way. The entire sighting lasted about 4 minutes. It did not display any changes in path but maintained a straight trajectory throughout our sighting. It was not a plane, and did not have any blinking lights. It was a clear night. Meteor showers were also present. Planes were also flying in the area. Two other lights were seen that were similar to this one. All were seen within a 15-20 minute period. The other two were of short duration. One was seen heading toward Venus from the Big Dipper and then disappeared. The other one was heading from Venus toward the Big Dipper. It appeared to have its own light and was not reflecting light as far as we could tell.

NUFORC Note:

The report seems consistent with a sighting of a tumbling booster, and other satellites.

Posted 2001-08-05