NUFORC Sighting 157742

Occurred: 2020-07-19 22:45 Local
Reported: 2020-07-20 10:14 Pacific
Duration: 25 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Vienna, VA, USA

Shape: Orb


Light at very high altitude began moving erratically for several minutes.

Background: Retired Executive. Private Pilot for several years.

The heat that day was in the upper nineties. I ride my recumbent trike 5-6 times a week for health purposes. I waited until dark when it finally dropped into the upper 80’s to ride. I rode on the W&OD Trail to Reston VA. MY WAY back, a fellow bicyclist came up beside and we struck up a conversation as we rode together back to Vienna, which is about 10-12 miles from the Pentagon. When we go to downtown, we stopped for a minute to rest and talk. With the recumbent trike in a resting postitio , I had a perfect view of the sky.. I immediately nosticed a bright starlike light, not twinkling. It was sitting still at first then it started moving. It looked just like a satellite which I have watched many. You suddenly it moved very uncharacteristicly, very quickly. As I watched it became very erratic in its movements. I asked my new friend to look at it. He seemed very uninterested. He said, “Oh, it’s just a satellite.” I told him it could not be a normal satellite because of it’s erractic, sudden movements and it’s sudden changes of direction. He looked but still was disinterested. He said something lie, you don’t believe in that stuff do you?” I told him that I do because of past experiences but that I never had witnessed before. He said that he had to get home and he left. He asked would I like to ride along another 2-3 miles to my car. He had to continue a few miles further. I said no, I’d like to watch this light another10-15 minutes, which I did. Though it moved most of the time it seems to remain i a small area of the sky.

As I rode another 15+ minutes I would watch as it still was in the same area. When I got to the trail parking lot, I could not see it for trees. From there I drove to my house.

The light was just below 11 o’clock high to the East-Southeast. Due to its position few people would be looking unless on purpose. However it was at an altitude that made it extremely visible across the metro area, possibly for very long distances. I’d guess it was in low earth orbit territory.

Please text me before calling. My number below is a cell #. This is the first time I have every reported anything like this to anyone. I will consider consenting to release my name after contact is made.

Thank you.

Posted 2020-07-31

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