NUFORC Sighting 87919

Occurred: 2011-07-04 20:00 Local
Reported: 2012-03-21 09:46 Pacific
Duration: 5 minutes; perhaps a litt
No of observers: 1

Location: Rolla, MO, USA

Shape: Fireball
Characteristics: Lights on object

Two burning lights at low altitude silently moving slowly in westward direction.

I have not reported this sighting to date because I was certain that I was simply missing something that was obvious but I cannot let it go and when I heard Mr. Peter Davenport's comment on the importance of not sitting on unreporting sightings on a recent Coast to Coast AM broadcase, I decided to finally pass my account.

My home is in Rolla, Missouri and at about 8 pm on July 4, 2011 (being July 4 is the first reason I dismissed what I saw), I was in my front yard shooting off fireworks with my children. It was betting dusky but still quite light and the sky was overcast. I am not certain what the visible ceiling was but below the cloud layer I noticed a bright light almost directly over my head. I do not think that the light was very high as the clouds seemed quite low in the sky but I cannot speak to their elevation. My wife also noted the light and asked me what it was. I commented that it must be a firework perhaps on a parachute. There was no noise at all so I doubted it was a helicopter or airplane given the light could not be too high given the low-lying clouds. It was moving towards the west slowly on a straight line. My wife lost interest in the light but I continued to watch it expecting it to descend as I presumed it was a firework on a chute.

Also, the light did not ap! pear to be a spotlight as it shimmered as if it was burning. Once again, no sound of an engine was audible.

I glanced off to the south and discovered another light parallel to the first as far as I could determine. It appeared to be a match to the one I had first noticed immediately overhead. Both lights continued on their westward path until they disappeared beyond the treeline. I was able to observe them for more than 5 minutes and there was no sign they ever descended. Thus I cannot believe they were fireworks and there were no running lights beyond the single burning ball of light makes me doubt they were aircraft. As I really would like to see an UFO of extraterrestial origin, I am thus intentionally skeptical but my recollections are as dispassionate and accurate as I can make them.

Posted 2012-05-13