NUFORC Sighting 77799

Occurred: 2007-08-11 21:00 Local
Reported: 2010-09-13 07:10 Pacific
Duration: 20 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Tiskilwa, IL, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Emitted other objects

Distant cluster of lights ejected smaller white lights

On August 11, 2007 at about 9 PM, while standing outside on my back deck facing north, I noticed a cluster of round, white lights north/northeast of my position. From an outstretched arm, a dime would have easily covered it twice over.

There were many lights in the cluster of varying sizes, perhaps dozens, but I could not determine an exact number. The cluster was very far away on the horizontal, perhaps hundreds of miles, and seemed fairly high in the sky – if you held your arm out at a 45 degree angle, it was higher. From this cluster, smaller round lights would shoot out in varying directions; from my position, mostly east and west, and in horizontal or slightly downward trajectories. At least 9 smaller lights came from the cluster. These moving lights could be seen traveling for distances of sometimes 3 times the size of the cluster, sometimes up to 6 times the size, then vanish. The lights of the cluster and those moving from it were significantly different than the airplanes which were also present in the sky.

I watched it for at least 20 minutes, and then I went inside. After about an hour, I went outside again, and it was gone.

I did not think it was a star or satellite, and the position was not one in which planets appear. I do not think it was a constellation, as the round lights of the cluster were so close together, and because of the smaller round lights ejected from it. The round lights of both the cluster and those that were moving were slightly dimmer than the brightest surrounding stars, and did not twinkle, but maintained their appearance throughout.

I am a retired attorney living in the country. There were no other witnesses.

Posted 2010-11-21