NUFORC Sighting 18648

Occurred: 2001-06-25 21:15 Local
Reported: 2001-07-26 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 15 minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Ocracoke Island, NC, USA

Shape: Other
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object, Left a trail, Changed Colo

This was a complex sighting of a rocket, and the creation of a plume or cloud of particles ejected perpendicular to trajectory.

This report correlates to others on 6/25/01, but I will add details of the phases of the sighting. I will number my descriptions 1 through 8; the intervals are approximately 30 seconds. Conditions were very clear, without haze or a cloud layer. Mars rising in East and stars emerging brightly at 9:15 pm. Viewing to the SE from 2nd floor balcony w/trees in foreground. My brother saw everythig after point #1, we called his girlfriend to witness from point #4. We discussed this description. 1) Orange light rising. Steady, not blinking. Oval shaped, long axis horizontal. 2) Size growing. Light's source seems shrouded by an accompanying cloud. Slow rate of ascension give impression of approaching aircraft. 3) 1/4 circular arc of light appears in wake of main light. Arc spans from 4 o'clock to 7 o'clock. Arc is dimmer than main sorce and diffused. (Refers to Helicopter's search light) 4) Main light is surrounded by glowing field, more orange, which is brightest in the 4 to 7 position. A black arc appears between the bright source and the glowing field 5) A big change in appearance: a bright yellow-white light with a comet like tail extending toward 2 o'clock. Tail extends width of fist at arm's length. By this point the object has risen from the horizon to about 30 degrees above, and and from SE to ESE. 6) The tail from the object widens to form a fan, it elongates, and dims. The color of the tail or plume changed from dark yellow in #5 to a darker yellow orange now. 7) Changing again: now the object is a bright orange streak surrounded by a bright gray cloud. 8) At this point, after 4 to 5 minutes of observation, the image dims. We see or hear no object leave the viewing area. A very large, faint cloud lingers for 15 minutes in the in the deepening twilight. A sketch sequence is available.

NUFORC Note:

Our gratitude to this individual for submitting such a nice report. Many other reports submitted for this apparent missile launch. PD

Posted 2001-08-05