NUFORC Sighting 81146

Occurred: 2010-11-15 22:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2011-05-05 22:33 Pacific
Duration: 2-3 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Berlin Township (just east of S.Rockwood), MI, USA

Shape: Fireball

Single fireball traveling SE, became comp stationary for aprox 45sec then fizld out slowly,no visable debree, clear night sky.LE coast.

In winter of 2010, my daughter and I were on our way home from the gas station. We were driving east on a river road. I always look to the skies, day n night. I play the name the plane game with her at times. This night I spotted what appeared to be a fireball in the sky. It was traveling south southwest. I quickly pointed it out to my daughter as it was clearing the tree lines and entering open visability! Before it cleared the tree lines it seemed to stop for about 15 seconds. I assumed it had changed flight direction and just appeared to be standing still. I was also traveling on a slightly twisty road but was on a straight shot at this point. It did not change shape or size. Then it started back into it's original path. It was moving at a speed common to planes that fly over. When it reached clear sky, she asked if it was a plane on fire, which was my first thought. I did not know who to contact in reguards to this. After I cleared the riverbend in the r! oad, I pulled over! The vehicle behind me passed and was driving extremely slow! I was getting my phone to call the Sheriffs dept. To report a possible plane on fire. I did not call! My daughter n I watched this object fly over the road and seemed to suddenly stop in mid air as it was hovering. It made no navigational moves what so ever. In the first seconds it stopped I was expecting it to fall to earth! It did not! It appeared to be over farm land and very close to us. It stayed in that spot for at least 45 seconds, blazing bright as it was when I first spotted it! Then it slowly started to fizzle out over about 15-20 seconds. Then it was gone! Once it was gone, I thought I seen some dark spots, maybe smoke which seemed to disapate! I was looking to see if I could see an object falling, I did not! It was dark out, but a clear night. When the object was traveling, it was roundish in shape but had the appearance of something on fire traveling. When it was stationary, it kep! t the more round appearance! It did not change shapes (triangl! e, squar e etc...) nor were there any other objects around it. I heard no sound coming from it but also had my vehicle running with the windows up. It is very common around here to see small objects falling to earth in the night sky. Those objects keep the same path and fizzle out as they fall, continually moving! They are also much smaller and different in color. They are nothing like this fireball I just described. I'm a logical person but can not place a logical explanation to this event. The following night, I pulled into my dads driveway (which is a block away from where I pulled over)! A plane in the night sky caught my attention. It was traveling north then seemed to change course quickly to a northeast patern and appeared to go out over the lake. It was traveling very fast at a low altitude! All of the lights on it were red, not caracteristic of our normal air traffic! My first and only impression of this craft was millatary! My vehicle was running with the windows up, I did not hear any sound. My daughter also witnessed this. I've never seen that type of craft around here before nor have I since.

NUFORC Note:

Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate. PD

Posted 2011-05-12