NUFORC Sighting 60674

Occurred: 2007-12-31 18:00 Local
Reported: 2008-01-04 13:46 Pacific
Duration: 5 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: McKinney, TX, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aircraft nearby

Conspicuous Lights seen in Night Sky over McKinney, Texas

During several nights in the week ending 4 January 2008, I have seen very bright lights over the different locations in McKinney, Texas. Since this area is in the landing path for DFW airport, I was not initially alarmed by what I saw. The objects were visible due west from a position located near 33.23 N by -96.68 W. I studied the objects with binoculars, comparing their distance to landmarks, and determined by their orientation to those landmarks, as well as compass readings, that they were not aircraft in the landing path. After several minutes of careful observation, it was determined they were fixed. Five minutes later, one of the objects changed its position. Then, another. Eventually, all three objects departed.

On 3 January, another set of lights was seen over a different part of the city. From a closer vantage point, it was clear the object was hovering over the east side of US75, possibly 2KM, near US380.

My first impression of these objects was that they were helicopters performing some sort of high-altitude scanning. It is unusual to see helicopters flying so high, especially when they are stationary. The lights, again, were very bright, similar to the landing lights of large commercial jets. Indeed, they were even discernible against the brightness of the western sky just after sunset. The lights did not appear to be flashing from any place on the aircraft.

Posted 2008-01-21