NUFORC Sighting 29540

Occurred: 2003-07-04 04:05 Local
Reported: 2003-07-04 14:14 Pacific
Duration: 90 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Chico, CA, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

A constant golden colored bright light traversed the pre-dawn sky from west to east with no sound.

I was walking into my place of employment in the early hours of the morning. I am a cook at a local nursing home so my day starts very early. Entrance to the building for staff is at the side in the back but we park way out front so we have to walk about 30 yards along the side. I was about half way to the entrance and was looking up at what I asume to be Mars? I was facing south-southeast and Mars was at its apex in the night sky. I suddenly noticed an equally bright golden colored light approaching from the west(my right), crossed in front of Mars and headed due east with no changing of course.

The object appeared as a bright, golden colored light with a steady glow. Although the stars all had a slight flicker to them this morning, the object did not. I got the impression of it being at a high altitude. This all took place about an hour before sunrise. The object came out of the west as a bright object but as it traversed the sky it dimmed in brightness which I found odd as it was approaching the sunrise. I got the impression that this was a controlled atmospheric reentry. I have witnessed the shuttle reentry before in the past and this reminded me of it. This is not the first time I have seen this, I have witnessed this event about 8 times over the past 10 years and the discription is always the same including the directions. Also I have never noticed any sound associated with these events.

I am an ex-USAF serviceman that is an avid aircraft enthusiast and am well acquainted with most aircraft both civilian and military.

((

NUFORC Note:

Probably the International Space Shuttle. Please see the following website:

http://www.heavens-above.com/passsummary.asp?lat=39.729&lng=-121.836&alt=60&loc=Chico&TZ=PST&satid=25544&Date=37798.7916666667&Mag=

PD))

Posted 2003-07-16