NUFORC Sighting 16011

Occurred: 2000-07-31 22:00 Local
Reported: 2001-01-21 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 3-5 secs
No of observers: 2

Location: Hopewell, VA, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Emitted other objects

Large neon-green fireball, travelling parallel to I-295 (south) at 200 mph and parallel to ground, behind treetops, near Hopewell, VA

I am resubmitting a report that I filed several weeks ago, since it is not yet posted on the website, and because I note that you are currently interested in sightings on July 31, 2000. On the evening of July 31, 2000 I was travelling south on I295 between Richmond, VA and Petersburg, VA, with 1 passenger. It was very dark and stormy and about 9 p.m.. The two of us observed what appeared to be a very large, neon-green fireball travelling south parallel to I295 at what appeared to be treetop level. It was travelling faster than the highway traffic, probably at 200 miles per hour or so. The lower third of it was hidden by the treetops. It did not have a long tail, but could have had a very short tail. Its surface appeared to have a lot of clear-colored small bubbles associated with it. Its size was comparable to a lemon held at arm's length. I thought it was a meteor at first. After thinking about it for several months, I considered the possibility that it might be a UFO. The reasons for this are as follows: 1) it was travelling parallel to the ground, not arcing down; 2) it did not have a well-defined tail; 3) it appeared very large, and appeared to be at a very low altitude. I am a geologist (PhD) and I knew that if a bolide of this size and scale hit the earth, it would cause a catastrophic event. I figured that astronomers would have noticed it and reported on it. I heard nothing reported. The alternative explanation is that we were looking at the base or side of a UFO. Since I do not know if you received my last report, please notify me when you receive this. My passenger was a 10 year old boy. If the object was a meteor, it was gargantuan in scale, and looked like a planet speeding past. Near Richmond airport.

Posted 2001-02-18