NUFORC UFO Sighting 186043

Occurred: 2024-12-26 20:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2024-12-26 18:05 Pacific
Duration: Varies avg. 45 sec max
No of observers: 1

Location: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Location details: Latitude: 18.3382 Longitude: -64.9319

Shape: Star
Color: White
Estimated Size: Estimated: Varying, similar to a luminary star
Viewed From: Land
Direction from Viewer: 40° North East - 190 feet above sea level
Angle of Elevation: 90
Heading: No pattern in direction; not in prograde orbit
Closest Distance: Estimated 20 to 50 miles above the surface.
Estimated Speed: Estimated: Varying, between 1,000-10,000 MPH
Characteristics: Lights on object

Star-shaped objects appeared infrequently, varying in speed, direction, size, with consistent color and luminosity, no noise.

I observed the objects on my own while viewing the night sky during my vacation, in an area with minimal light pollution. Initially, the sightings were infrequent, but after extensive periods of time, I realized that the objects kept reappearing, rather than being a one-time occurrence. Occasionally, some were seen simultaneously, but they never shared the same characteristics in terms of size, speed, or direction.

After two days of observing them, I decided to create a report as I could not identify the objects despite numerous attempts to consider possible explanations, none of which provided clear answers or mathematical cues.

The lights never appeared together like Starlink satellites. There were no flares or reflections, and my camera could not capture the objects. They lacked any discernible pattern, moving at different speeds, directions, and sizes. Despite these variations, their color remained consistent, resembling a regular star.

The objects were not comets or asteroids, as they moved much slower than an asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere. While the objects crossed the sky quickly, they did not have the extreme speed or trail that would identify them as asteroids. They were fast, but not so fast as to be mistaken for an asteroid.

The International Space Station (ISS) was ruled out, as the sightings involved multiple objects, and the ISS orbits below my location. Satellites were also ruled out due to the constant visibility of these objects, their proximity, the lack of a predictable pattern, and the absence of a prograde orbital movement, which would be typically be seen with satellites.

Satellite flares were excluded because the objects did not exhibit a blue hue or streak of light typical of flare phenomena. Starlink satellites were ruled out because the objects did not appear in uniform lines or share equal characteristics in terms of size, speed, and direction.

Planes were excluded due to the absence of flashing or colored lights, which would normally be visible on aircraft. Commercial drones were also ruled out because of the immense speed of the objects and their extreme altitude—much higher than typical drone flights.

Weather balloons were ruled out because of the immense speed of the objects and the frequent sightings. Weather balloons move much more slowly and are much less likely to be seen at the high altitudes that these objects appeared to occupy.

Attempts to film the objects were unsuccessful due to distortion of light at higher zoom levels on my iPhone, which made the objects unidentifiable.

The objects displayed persistent movement in one direction without erratic changes in course. While they seemed high above the ground, they did not appear small enough to be in space.

Yesterday, two of these objects were seen simultaneously, moving almost perpendicular to each other. They could have crossed paths if their speeds had been different.

Posted 2024-12-29