NUFORC Sighting 102591

Occurred: 2013-09-23 20:40 Local
Reported: 2013-09-23 23:16 Pacific
Duration: 2 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Muskogee, OK, USA

Shape: Orb

What was thought to be a satellite, stopped completely in its travels and sat stationary for a full minute.

A sighting which would have gone unreported probably, but for hearing about the sightings in Austin Texas tonight on Coast to Coast AM.

Perhaps the following is a useful inclusion, depending on whether it fits in with other reported sightings.

My usual trip outside to view satellites in our backyard included an odd event tonight. I lay down on the garden long chair, as has been a usual thing this Summer and which also blocks out a street light by doing so (yard fence in the way).

At 20:40 I saw what looked 100% like a satellite, crossing above me heading North to South. Brightness, movement speed etc were perfectly normal.

It moved overhead and down, to approximately 35 degrees above the horizon.

It then stopped, completely stopped its travel and sat in the sky motionless to the eye.

The luminance was exactly the same for the next full 1 minute as when it had been travelling. Then, still without moving, it slowly faded in brightness til fully disappearing, taking approximately 20 seconds to do so.

I mention the experience, because Austin Texas is only a few degrees from due South of us here in Oklahoma and usual satellite orbits can place their viewing to many hundreds of miles away.

The stopping has never been witnessed before, though fading can happen sometimes depending on viewing time after sunset.

I'm well versed in satellite spotting, with a favourite being the ancient Atlas Centaur 2, using www.satview.org to determine viewing time.

Regarding recognising aircraft, I have extensive experience of aircraft identification over my 44 years, with many years of R/C aircraft building and having lived on the flightpath to Manchester Airport in England before moving to the USA.

Clouds moved in over the next few minutes after the event and i've been unable to view the sky for the rest of the evening.

Posted 2013-09-30