NUFORC Sighting 20698

Occurred: 2001-12-01 22:26 Local
Reported: 2001-12-04 10:25 Pacific
Duration: 15 seconds
No of observers: 0

Location: St. Peter, MN, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Left a trail, Aircraft nearby

object with trail behind it slowly moves across sky to north and then abruptly shoots off in its continuing direction to the north.

I was driving south on a poorly lit sidestreet in St. Peter, giving me a good view of the clear night sky. I looked up to the south sky, and I saw what I had believed to be a meteor. I saw an orange light, but was unable to make out any definite shape. There was a trail behind it, much like you would see behind a comet. I knew it was not a meteor, because it was moving slowly from south to north. After about 5-10 seconds of this "phenomenon" moving slowly across the sky, it shot off in it's continuing direction towards the north. There was no sound emitted by the craft, nor any ensuing sonic boom. I got out of my car to get a better look, but by that time it was gone. I also noticed two airplanes passing by the area where the event had occurred. I have no knowledge as to what kind of aircraft they were, or whom they belonged to. I talked to several other people in the general vicinity whom had viewed the same event. We speculated what it may have been, and came up with a few things- possibly a fighter jet? A satellite re-entering the atmosphere? An experimental aircraft? We had exhausted the possiblilites, and then gave caution to the idea that it may very well have been an UFO.

NUFORC Note:

We suspect the witness is describing the re-entry event that occurred at approximately 2120 hrs. (Mountain) on Saturday, December 01, 2001. Please see following URL for details: . PD

Posted 2001-12-05