NUFORC Sighting 05184

Occurred: 1998-12-15 03:30 Local
Reported: 1998-12-20 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 1 second
No of observers: 2

Location: Petaluma, CA, USA

Shape: Circle
Characteristics: Lights on object

Bright white disk, traveling rapidly in a straight line from Northwest to North toward the horizon.

The object appeared and immediately grew very bright (as bright as the brightest star in the sky) and about two and a half times as large as the biggest star seen in the sky. As soon as it had reached its maximum brightness, it moved in a straight line from the northwest, where it first appeared, to the north. Within about half to three quarters of a second it had gone behind a tree so I could no longer keep track of it. It was much too fast for an aeroplane or satellite, and considerably slower than a meteorite. I couldn't really tell its altitude. Its elevation started at about 40 degrees above the horizon and was at about 35 degrees when I lost sight of it.

Posted 1999-02-16