NUFORC Sighting 109446

Occurred: 2014-05-19 21:00 Local
Reported: 2014-05-19 19:57 Pacific
Duration: 5 minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Altamonte Springs, FL, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Lights on object

Multiple groups of bright orange fireball like lights flying slowly in formation Orlando area.

While taking my trash out to the curb, I noticed 3 large, bright orange lights flying lowly in what seemed to be a formation coming from the south. They were travelling rather slowly and did not have any other flashing lights like you would normally see from an airplane so it struck me as odd. They made no sound and moved very slowly. I then noticed 4 more of the same lights coming behind them from the same direction. I quickly ran in to the house to grab my two kids so they could see them too. When we got back outside there was another group of 3 coming up from behind the second group.

My view in that direction is partially blocked by some tall pine trees so I was only able to see the lights through the breaks in the trees as they moved toward us. I moved my position to get a different angle so I could see them better after they passed the trees, but they never appeared on the other side. I then went back to my original spot where I could then see another small group approaching but the first few groups were nowhere to be found. I followed the lead light in that group to try and see where they were going and it basically seemed like it made a slow hard left turn, travelling away from my vantage point, until it faded from view and the others followed.

In total I saw 5 or more groups totaling approximately 16 or more lights. All were in groups of 2 to 4 and traveled in a similar path in what looked like a loose formation of sorts. I have never seen anything like this before and in hindsight I wish I had thought to count exactly how many I saw. I was so surprised at what I was seeing that it never crossed my mind to count how many lights or groups I was seeing. Each of the lights looked very similar to what an ignited flare looks like, just more orange in color than the vibrant red of a road flare. I spend lots of time outdoors and love looking at the stars in the night sky. This is the first time I have ever seen anything that I could not identify.

Posted 2014-06-04