NUFORC UFO Sighting 181367

Occurred: 2024-05-02 20:06 Local
Reported: 2024-05-03 01:02 Pacific
Duration: 30-60 seconds
No of observers: 2 - Pilot

Location: Buckeye, AZ, USA
Location details: at 43,000 westbound over Buckeye, AZ. 33N133W Bend in I-10 E of Quartzite AZ visible in pic.

Shape: Light
Color: Whire
Estimated Size: Unknown
Viewed From: Aircraft
Direction from Viewer: West
Angle of Elevation: 30
Closest Distance: Unknown
Estimated Speed: Orbital speed?
Explanation: Rocket - Probable
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

Flying westbound at 43000’ object was opposite direction, appeared to be orbital alt and speed, large aura around object.

I’m a corporate pilot. We were flying westbound at 43,000’ just west of Buckeye, AZ slightly North of I-10, time was about 20:06 PT. Time that was showing on my was 04:06, I believe that’s displayed in one or more of the photos attached. Our position was about 33N 113W. My copilot and eye were looking for satellites. We had seen several then this super bright light appeared. I was thinking it was the moon and had a hard time processing that the moon was not visible and this wasn’t the moon. I missed about 30-60 seconds of taking photos of it. I ended up getting 3 photos, 2 good ones but the one bad one does show movement from the other two photos. Then I recorded a short video also attached with a better light setting that wasn’t blown out. The track of it passed the star Capella. The photos show the movement of it passing the star Al Kab and in the video the visible star is Haedus II, then I believe Capella on the right of it, then to the left possibly MenKalinan, all in Constellation Auriga. Also in the video at 6, 7, 8 & 9 seconds there is a weak flashing to the lower right of the object.

This looked like a satellite that was possible venting something. I’ve seen many satellites over the years including Starlink and Iridium flares. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this. It looked like it had some kind of aura but it wasn’t circular, it kind of resembled wings. Mainly, if this was in orbit or close to it, I cant explain why it had this cloud or aura around it. I use SkySafari Pro app on my iPad. I updated the minor body orbit data and at the time of the sighting there was no satellite that matched the path of what I saw. It was very very bright as you can see from the photos.

NUFORC Note:

Starlink 6-55
Falcon 9
SpaceX

Posted 2024-05-05