NUFORC Sighting 12701

Occurred: 2000-04-24 19:52 Local
Reported: 2000-04-24 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 6 minutes +
No of observers: 4

Location: Tulsa, OK, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object, Left a trail, Aircraft nearby

Large fireball traveling rapidly in a SW direction

The kids were the first to notice the object. My wife and I ignored them at first, thinking they were seeing a contrail from a jet. But taking a second look we began noticing unusual characteristics about the object that separated it from the hundreds of vapor trails we'd seen from aircraft. First, the object appeared to be moving very rapidly compared to conventional aircraft. Second, the head of the object was indeed a distinct fireball shape with no clear separation between the object itself and the vapor trail as you expect in a jet. Third the jet is rarely perceived at all or - if it is the object is smaller than the vapor trail itself especially in width - that is one usually perceives the contrail but no jet. Fourth, the contrail was not in a straight vector as it trailed from the object, but was more whispy and appeared carried by the winds or the atmosphere. Fifth, the contrail varied in size - both in length and width - as the object traveled. In fact, soon afterwards we observed a jet contrail and noted the distinct differences between it and what we just saw. For a brief moment we saw another object like the first. The parties and myself are in a disagreement over whether this was the original object we saw at a greater distance, another object, or a jet. My personal opinion is that the object was either a very large piece of space debris, a crashing aircraft, a huge meteor, or an extraterrestrial craft.

Posted 2000-04-26