NUFORC Sighting 45584

Occurred: 2005-07-30 00:00 Local
Reported: 2005-08-12 10:58 Pacific
Duration: 30 secs
No of observers: 4

Location: Bastrop County (rural area), TX, USA

Shape: Light

FASt, satellirt-like "sparkling" object moving west to east and crossing almost the full sky in 10-20 seconds.

I don't know that what I saw is in amy way unusual - it may well be completely conventional, but I was struck by the characteristics of this object.

It was up in the clear night sky, similar in size and velocity to a satellite. What was unusual (at least in my experience) was that it "sparkled" - I have been referring to it as a "fast sparkler". It sparkled in a regular pattern, it seemed to me, in maybe three levels of intensity, over the space of a second or a bit less.

My personal explanation is that is is a pulse-jet driven craft (Aurora?) but who knows? Maybe it was a conventional military craft at Mach+ speeds.

I do not believe it was a meteor as it did not appear to change it's flight characteristics in any way (altitude, sparkle rhythm, brightness) and it appeared to be travelling precisely west to east.

I saw it cross at least 80% of an almost horizon-to-horizon vista over a span of maybe as much as 30 seconds.

If it wasn't for the speakle, I would have assumed it to be a satellite and not given it any more thought.

Posted 2005-10-11