NUFORC Sighting 16257

Occurred: 2001-02-05 17:50 Local
Reported: 2001-02-05 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 3-5
No of observers: 1

Location: Riverside, CA, USA

Shape: Oval

Oblong or ovoid luminous object,

It was almost 6 PM (about 5:50, I think). As I sat down at a bus stop I noticed a bright oblong or oval-type shape toward the west. It was perhaps about 1/3 the apparent size of the full moon, and I couldn't tell how far away it was. It was low on the horizon--that is, just above trees, buildings, etc. It was bright enough and big enough to be very noticable, and yet its luminosity was kind of dullish--that is, it didn't "shine"--it had a kind of uniform brightness and tone. It had a bluish white color--very much like the moon. Now, it could have been an ordinary object for all I know--but I noticed it immediately, and couldn't identify it, even though I am (I think) pretty familiar with the sky, astronomical objects, aircraft, etc. I thought it might have been a blimp--maybe it was, but it didn't really seem like one. It was elongated vertically rather than horizontally, though that might be due to perspective. I watched it move with reference to various objects on the horizon: it hovered, and moved slowly a few angular degrees both horizontally and vertically. After I watched it for a few minutes, the light went out, but I could still see the silhouette of the the object against the twilight sky (the object was darker than the surrounding sky). As I recall, the dark silhouette that remained after the light went out was rectangular, not ovoid. It was in plain view of the city--I am reporting it simply because it was interesting and unfamiliar to me, although it might have just a mundane explanation!

Posted 2001-02-18