NUFORC Sighting 58871

Occurred: 2007-09-17 17:30 Local
Reported: 2007-09-22 15:42 Pacific
Duration: 1 minute
No of observers: 2

Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object

Bright light after sunset in Southern California

My friend and I witnessed a bright light in the sky on Monday September 17, 2007 at approximately 7:30-7:45 pm. We did not check our watch, but Venus was very visible and few other stars were showing.

The light was about equal in brightness to Venus and did not appear to be moving. There was no visible trail, and we thought it was another bright planet. It was approximately 45 degrees off of the horizon. After observing the light for approximately 15 seconds, the light vanished and a white haze lingered in its location for less than a minute.

The location of the light was almost due north, as I noted the direction and compared it to the presence of the North Star and big dipper once they appeared. We were located on a boat at the Channel Islands in Southern California. Specifically, we were anchored at smugglers cove on the east end of Santa Cruz Island, and the light appeared above Santa Barbara.

My first thoughts were that it may be a satellite, but I have never seen a satellite that was that bright. The white haze had me thinking that it was a missile or rocket launch from Vandenberg AFB, but my research so far shows no launches that evening. I have seen missile launches before and have seen a haze after the rocket left the atmosphere, but this did not appear to be moving and there was no contrail.

Posted 2007-10-08