NUFORC Sighting 12395

Occurred: 2000-03-19 21:00 Local
Reported: 2000-03-20 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 5 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Tucson, AZ, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aircraft nearby

Witnessed an extremely fast-moving object, moving across the lower sky toward the horizon in a Northwesterly direction. Object emitted a flashing white light.

I was star gazing from my balcony in NW Tucson, looking westward toward the night sky at around 9 PM, when I saw an object moving at an extremely high rate of speed toward the western horizon. I am an aviation buff, and I have never seen any man-made aircraft move across the sky this fast. I would estimate it covered at least 30 or 40 miles in those few seconds. The duration of it's appearance was approx 4 or 5 seconds, and it appeared at though it was heading at a 30 degree angle toward the ground. It was impossible to tell how far away it was, but it moved NW toward the mountains and disappeared over the horizon. I watched for a flash from an explosion, but never saw one. I assume it was moving toward the NW and simply was following the earth's curvature. I'd be curious if anyone in the Phoenix or Las Vegas areas witnessed it as well. It was impossible to see what shape it was; all you could see is a brightly blinking white light. I have watched many satellites and jet aircraft cross the skies at night here in the desert, but I have NEVER seen something moving this fast. There was no sonic boom, or noise of any kind from the object. Also, at the same time, I saw the lights of an approaching jet airliner from roughly the same direction. The jet was inbound from the NW, heading for Tucson Intl, and it took about 10-15 minutes for it to come close enough to my viewpoint to identify it as an aircraft. I wonder if the crew on that aircraft saw this object, which was heading roughly toward it's path? The weather was clear, with a bright, full moon. I was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.

Posted 2000-04-01