NUFORC Sighting 51276

Occurred: 2006-07-08 23:00 Local
Reported: 2006-07-08 23:38 Pacific
Duration: 10 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Green Valley, AZ, USA

Shape: Formation
Characteristics: Lights on object

dim cluster of lights over southern arizona

I was on my back patio which faces west, when I noticed what appeared to be 2 starlike objects slowly floating east just above the horizon, moving up. its position in the sky was near where saturn set and it moved east/southeast toward the star arcturus. it then changed direction about 20 degrees above the horizon and moved south toward saturn. i then realized it was not a satellite or planes flying in formation since there is an airforce base nearby. i am a novice amateur astronomer so i ran inside an got my 4 inch telescope to see if i could resolve what it was. through my telescope i followed it for another 5 minutes as it moved north of scopio and out of view to the east. it consisted of one bright blueish light which i estimate to be of the 3rd magnitude with a small cluster of fainter blue and red lights just above it. it appeared to wobble as it moved. the only thing i could compare its movement to is possibly a large cluster of party balloons with a lantern or other light source tethered to it. which, is what it could have been, only the location where it rose from is desolate, uninhabited desert.

as i said before, i am an amateur astronomer. i have spent many hours looking at the night sky. i have 2 telescopes, a 4 inch refractor, and an 8 inch SCT. i am 31 years old and of sound mind.

Posted 2006-07-16