NUFORC Sighting 174849

Occurred: 2023-03-02 19:21 Local
Reported: 2023-03-02 19:41 Pacific
Duration: 2-3 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Edgewood/ Sandia Park, NM, USA
Location details: Residence between Edgewood and Sandia Park New Mexico on my driveway facing west

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Dull red light traveling at a incredibly fast speed

This is a fairly rural area with very little light pollution. The sky was not fully dark yet, about an 1.5 hours after sunset. Looking at the planetary convergence with 10x50 binoculars (laying on car roof for stability) I was checking out Jupiters 3 visible moons. A single dull red light moving at an extremely high speed entered the Binos field of vision. It entered my FOV under Jupiter and traveled in a straight line from South traveling North, Approximately on the 7 o’clock plane moving towards the 2 o’clock location. It was in the Binos FOV for about 2 seconds as I followed it across the sky, then faded out, I pulled the Binos away and with my naked eye, I picked it up again but very hard to see now. It seemed to pause for a 1/4 of a second & shot directly up, 90 degrees towards the 12 o’clock position and vanished. No visible exhaust trail, no blinking lights or sound. The whole experience lasted 2-3 seconds. I was in shock because I have never seen anything in real life traveling this fast and moving so smooth that changed direction so abruptly. FYI , Kirkland AFB is in ABQ and about 18 miles SW of my location, I can’t view the base or the city of ABQ due to the Sandia/ Manzano Mountains blocking my view. Also there were numerous aircraft in the sky during this siting but none in the immediate area.

Posted 2023-03-06