NUFORC Sighting 19687

Occurred: 2001-05-19 02:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2001-09-30 02:12 Pacific
Duration: 7 minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Bear Canyon Lake, AZ, USA

Shape: Formation

3 satellites or crafts (dimmed star like light quality) flying in a triangular formation,

Very clear night, high altitude 5500ft(for Arizona), conifer forest new growth.

2 Adult males, 1 Young adult male. App. 2:00 am.

We observed what appeared to be 3 satellites or crafts (dimmed star like light quality) flying in a triangular formation, trajectory east to west.

They traveled slightly faster than the previous 6 or 7 satellites (seen singular with different trajectories) viewed earlier the same evening.

The trianglular formation had one craft out front and all were equaly distanced from each other.

Once they had covered 2/3 of the sky, the craft in the northern most position left the formation to a good distance held there a moment and returned to it's original postion qickly. As soon as it reached this position the formation rotated clockwise slightly so that that the formation now had the two rear crafts in the lead. Staying on the original trajectory until out of sight over western horizon.

NUFORC Note:

Satellites probably would not be visible at 0200 hrs., since they would be in the Earth's shadow at that time of morning. Also, very few satellites have a westerly component to their ground track. PD

Posted 2001-10-12