NUFORC Sighting 117925

Occurred: 2015-03-19 20:15 Local
Reported: 2015-03-19 22:56 Pacific
Duration: 30 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Carbondale, IL, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aircraft nearby

2 big, white lights hovering over Carbondale, and 5 helicopters circling around them.

I was driving north from Makanda to Carbondale at 8:15 pm. About a mile north of the south end of Union Hill, I saw some lights in the sky to the north of me. 2 large white lights floating motionless in the sky, and some smaller colored lights that appeared to be helicopters.

The white lights were, from my vantage, about 5 degrees above the horizon. Apparently floating 500' above Hwy 13, or somewhere to the north of Hwy 13. The light on the left was floating about 200' higher than they one on the right (This is a very rough estimate). They were bright, big, glowing, white.

The helicopters were moving to the left and right, back and forth, maybe circling. 2 were flying around near the SIU farms, west of McLafferty and South of Chataqua. The other 3 were roving around in the vicinity of the 2 white lights.

I was driving into Carbondale to visit a friend. From his house I could see the white lights and 1 helicopter.

I went inside his house for 2 minutes and dragged him outside to see. He saw the helicopter. The Light seemed to have moved a bit when I saw it again, it had drifted a little lower, partially hidden by trees and buildings.

I went inside. Came back out 15 minutes later. No sign of lights or helicopters.


((ADDENDUM FROM WITNESS))

Yes, April. (sic. March 19, 2015)

Just learned that they local small airport was holding night-flying training that night. Which doesn't explain the 2 white lights but I dunno, maybe they were some kind of markers. I'm feeling like my report may have been a false alarm.

Sure was spooky tho.

((END ADDENDUM))

Posted 2015-03-20

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