NUFORC UFO Sighting 167586

Occurred: 2022-04-24 20:20 Local
Reported: 2022-04-25 10:33 Pacific
Duration: 8.20 - 8.45+ PM
No of observers: 4

Location: Mooresville, Charlotte, NC, USA
Location details: East (approximately 50 degrees on Stellarium App)

Shape: Circle
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object

Spotted while waiting to photograph Starlink Satellites

I have a Ph.D. and am an amateur photographer. I set up my Tamron ultra-telephoto zoom lens (SP 150-600 mm f5-6.3 DiVC) on a tripod to shoot the Starlink satellite pass over Lake Norman last night. I focused on the area where according to my Stellarium App the satellites would be visible from 8.20 PM onwards. I saw a yellow "star" that to the naked eye I assumed was probably Venus, but on closer examination through my lens it appeared to be a large circle surrounded by
a ring of bright white lights. Thinking this may be part of the satellite system I started shooting. When I developed the shots, most were blurry because the object was moving faster or more erratically than expected. I enhanced the clearest shot, which looks to be a bit too symmetrical for a planet or star. My neighbors were also watching from their docks and saw only the "star" but suggested sending the clear shot to you for further analysis.

Posted 2022-05-31