NUFORC Sighting 12609

Occurred: 2000-04-12 20:50 Local
Reported: 2000-04-08 00:00 Pacific
Duration: Less than a minute
No of observers: 1

Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA

Shape: Orb
Characteristics: Lights on object

While doing some astronomy an object zoomed across my vision (while looking through the eyepiece) it was small and bright, but it wasn't all light, I could discern somehow that it wasn't all light. It reversed course which proved it wasn't a satellite or airplane. Also, it was going to slow to be a meteorite, but still pretty fast.

I was looking around the constellation Canis Major(particulary around the star Sirius) through my telescope. My telescope is an 8 inch newtonian reflector, I was using the 25mm lense, if that helps at all. The background was a few stars seen only through the telescope and of course, space. The object zoomed across my line of vision, I could tell it was going very fast, but it was far away. It didn't flash across so it definitly wasn't a meteorite, which would have been disproved anyway by the fact that it reversed course. I was by myself. This was in the south and slightly to the east, and like a said around the constellation Canis Major which would put it about 50 degrees above the horizon. At first it was heading down at an angle, but when it reversed it's course it was heading up at the same angle. It was a very short sighting. I happen to be an aviation enthusiast and know for a fact there is no way it was any KNOWN aircraft. The fact that it reversed course rules out it being in orbit as well. I know I'm stumped.

Posted 2000-04-15