NUFORC Sighting 11568

Occurred: 2000-01-03 22:43 Local
Reported: 2000-01-04 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 3 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Reno, NV, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

At 22:43 Jan 03, 2000 I observed in the night sky, a bright white object traveling at a very high rate of speed from north to south. It was as large as my thumb extended at arms length.

At 22:43 Jan 03, 2000 I observed in the night sky, an object traveling at a very high rate of speed, flat on the horizon. It traveled from north to south. It came into my vision at a point just below and to the south of the North Star. It traveled below Cassiopia to a point just about exactly West of me. I am in Reno, Nevada. The object was very bright (not like a fireball)like a white light. It appeared at least as bright as Venus. It took only 3 sceonds to travel this great distance of sky. It's elevation was very difficult for me to even estimate. I was looking about 12 to 15 degrees above the horizon. The object was as large as my thumb extended at arms length. It didn't get appreciably brighter nor did it fade out. It just traveled at a high rate of speed in and out of vision. I watch satellites all the time. I can usually figure how high up they are and the characteristics they demonstrate. Including how long it takes them to travel across our sky at 17,500 miles per hour. This was traveling at many times that speed. Even if it was lower, it traveled many times faster than any planes I know of. Within a very short time after I saw this object two aircraft appeared in the sky going in the direction where Lost sight of the bright object. They were very large and traveling at the speed I would expect chase aircraft to travel at. The only thing is they had very bright lights on all the way accross the sky (unlike regular aircraft)and they made no sound. It was very quiet and there was no wind. I watch aircraft all the time and I know you can hear them in these circumstances. These made no sound. They did have, in addition to the regular appearing aircraft lights, red and white strobes. Two things were very strange however; I watched the one that was traveling from North to south, in the direction of the object, for an inordinately long time and distance. I watch planes all the time and I know I cannot see them at such a distance and again I must mention they made no sound. The other aircraft appeard from the East and traveled west to the direction of the Object. I am a cool headed person in my fifty's. I love the sky, planes and things celestial as did my mom before me. I have been observing the sky since I was a very young man. I don't know what I saw but I did see this interesting object and the craft I described. I felt I should report it. If it was Russian space junk entering the atmosphere, why the chase craft and what were they? Very large, lights on when they shouldn't be and NO SOUND. I hope this report helps.

Posted 2000-01-07

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