NUFORC Sighting 177786

Occurred: 2023-08-18 23:00 Local
Reported: 2023-08-23 19:09 Pacific
Duration: Several seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Vacaville, CA, USA
Location details: Backyard stargazing looking for meteors

Shape: Orb

Meteors don't slow down and make 90 degree turns

I was in my backyard stargazing as I had heard the Perseid meteor shower was still going to be visible until the end of the month. I actually viewed several a night over the past several nights leading up to Aug 18th and I'm 51y/o so I have seen my fair share of "shooting stars" in my life.

My eyes were acclimated to the dark sky as I had been outside looking up for about 40 minutes prior so more and more stars were coming into focus and in my field of view. I then saw what I thought was a shooting star but it took a 90 degree turn went a distance while slowing and then made another 90 degree turn before it accelerated and faded out. I literaly didn't believe what I had seen. It was at a very high altitude. Looked like a star in the sky making turns. So weird. I'm one city away from Travis AFB in northern California so I've seen plenty of military aircraft before and this wasn't one of "Ours". It moved at a ridiculously fast but smooth speed and then changed direction on a dime and appeared to slow down but then sped up and changed direction at 90 degrees again. The entire event lasted maybe 2 or 3 seconds. I will never forget it. It's been bothering me for nearly a week now. What the hell was it? Drones can't operate that high right? And at supersonic speed?

Posted 2023-09-10