NUFORC Sighting 04963

Occurred: 1998-11-17 04:00 Local
Reported: 1998-12-02 00:00 Pacific
Duration: appr. 30 sec.
No of observers: 1

Location: Joshua Tree National Park, CA, USA

Shape: Light


Short duration UFO seen descending from approx 45 degrees above Northern horizon in a strange back and forth motion. Slowly lost luminosity and disapeared.

I was watching the Leonid Meteor Shower from Joshua Tree not far from interstate 10 freeway (i could see freeway in the distance). Facing the freeway (North) at approximately 4:00 am, my attention was drawn to a rather bright star-like object in motion. I would guestimate the magnitude of this object was a -1 or about the brightness of Sirius. It was slowly descending towards the mountains in the distance. Now I have seen many objects in the night sky that I could easily explain such as Meteors, planets, artificiall satellites, airplanes, etc.. But this object did not 'act' like any of these. It was moving side to side as it descended, reminding me of a falling feather. As it descended it also seemed to be loosing some brightness but basically dissapeared very unexpectedly. The duration of this sighting was less than a minute. Conditions were mostly clear with some clouds moving in from the West. Interestingly, as I saw this object, meteors simultaneously streaked by it but my attention was focused on this strange light.

Posted 1999-01-28

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