NUFORC Sighting 71686

Occurred: 2009-08-15 23:00 Local
Reported: 2009-08-16 12:59 Pacific
Duration: 30 seconds
No of observers: 4

Location: Simi Valley, CA, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Lights on object

Variable orange light in the sky over Simi CA

On the night of August 15, 2009 at approximately 11:00PM we saw something strange in the sky. We were hosting my son's birthday party and were in the backyard enjoying festivities. There were about 40 people in attendance.

I was standing by the pool when someone called my attention to an odd orange light in the sky that was varying in intensity like a fire. It was moving towards us at the right speed and altitude to be a small plane and was heading from south to north. I then noticed my son standing next to me looking at it as well. I thought at first it was a plane on fire. As I watched I noticed that there were no other lights on this object like an aircraft should have, just a chaotic dimming and brightening orange light. We did not hear any sound from the object but we did have music playing outside that could have masked any sound.

We watched the object travel across the sky, behind a large pine tree, and back into view. A few moments later it started dimming and then went out entirely and we could see only dark sky. The whole event seemed to last about a minute but my better judgment says about 30 to 40 seconds.

There were no clouds in the sky, no unusual weather conditions, just a calm cool summer night.

I checked the news on both the internet and local paper today (the morning after) but have found no reports of anything that would explain what we saw.

A horizontal moving flare? Ball lightning? A troubled aircraft? Others must have seen this which is why I'm reporting it, so that perhaps it can be resolved as to what this was.

Posted 2009-08-27