NUFORC Sighting 38555

Occurred: 2004-05-17 18:45 Local
Reported: 2004-08-09 21:37 Pacific
Duration: Approx. 2 min
No of observers: 1

Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Shape: Sphere
Characteristics: Lights on object

Light spotted early evening moving rapidly for 30 sec then becoming stationary appearing as white bell-jar shape.

At about 6:45PM PST on 5/17/04 I observed a moving light flying from the east foothills of San Jose, CA toward the southwest. The light, first estimated to be about 2500ft altitude and 3 mile distance, drew my attention because it appeared to have the intensity and quality of a bright aircraft landing light as observed in the night time. The initial velocity was considerably faster than aircraft often observed flying at that altitude and range. The object flew at relatively constant velocity and altitude for the first 30 sec. and then came to a gradual stand-still during the next 15 seconds with the light dimming and finally appearing as a white circular diffuse object with relatively sharp edges. I retrieved my binoculars (7X35 power)within 30 seconds and viewed the object which appeared more like a bell jar shape (1:1 aspect ratio)with an occasional sliver of black at the bottom observed. The object seemed to move slightly up and down and sideways hovering just below one of the white cumulus clouds (elevation 3205 ft per local meteorological report). I continued to view the object through binoculars for an additional minute until it disappeared upward into the cloud. The object never reappeared during an additional 15 minutes of observation. No sound was heard from the object.

Initial AZ and EL angles were later estimated using a protractor jig. Using these angles plus the flight time and cloud height, a set of latitude and longitude angles were derived using MS Street Finder application. The calculated date is given below.

Observer location: LAT.=37.38720 deg. N LONG.= 121.84012 deg. W Initial object location: LAT.=37.41150 deg. N LONG.=121.78898 deg. W Final object location: LAT.=37.37613 deg. N LONG.=121.80665 deg. W Elevation: 3200 ft Avg. velocity: 234 miles/hr Final slant range: 2.1 miles Est. object size: 15 ft +/- 4ft diameter based on est. angular size and slant range.

Note: The observer is a member of MUFON (specialist-physics) and has over 30 years of experience in the defense industry.

NUFORC Note:

We express our gratitude to the witness, a member of MUFON, for sharing this report. PD

Posted 2004-08-11