NUFORC Sighting 11834

Occurred: 2000-01-29 07:30 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2000-01-31 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 1-2 min.
No of observers: 2

Location: Northbend (5 mile west of), WA, USA

Shape: Cross
Characteristics: Lights on object, Changed Colo

spotted object from I-5, 5 miles west of Northbend. object hovering over top of mountain. lights visible change from white to red.

We were traveling east on I-5 towards Northbend, WA. About 5 miles from our exit I spotted what appeared to be an airplane flying over the hills near the Highway. I noticed that the object was not moving and was sitting staitionary above the hill. The Sun was not up above the surrounding mountains yet at this time and the sky was clear with no clouds. I looked very carefully for a tower that may have been supporting this object like a beacon. I did not see a tower and brought it to the attention of the person driving the car. When I first noticed the object it was giving off a bright white light. As I observed the object it very slowly faded color from white to a very bright red light before it disappeared behind the hill we were going by next to the road. The light reminded of an airport beacon which changes color as it rotates from white to green. the light changed at a much slower rotation, if indeed it was rotating at all. I have seen many beacons and it did not have the same look when it changed. it was as if the light faded out then came back on red increasing in intensity. I cannot speak for the person driving as to his background in observation. I am a trained weather watcher for NOAA and an amatuer Radio operator. I am an amatuer astronomer and very familiar with most types of aircraft. The object if it was above the hill was very small it appeared to be about 200 feet above the top. about the size of an F-16 or smaller. Since we were traveling about 60 MPH then if the object was not above the hill it was moving at a speed which made it appear to be sitting stationary in relationship to us. I looked very carefully at the object and did not see any rotors above the object which would have been associated with Rotary wing aircraft. It could have been a Harrier Jump jet, on training exercise holding position and signaling someone in the distance. but with the gust of winds we had that day, the pilot was doing an exceptional job of holding his craft stationary. when we passed the obstruction to ou! r veiw t he object was gone. If the object was a beacon on a tower and we could not see the original spot when we came around the hill, well the other towers on top of the other hills nearby were plainly visible that morning and I could not see any structure supporting this object and like I said all the other towers were plainly visible.

Posted 2000-02-16

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