NUFORC Sighting 14147

Occurred: 2000-08-28 22:15 Local
Reported: 2000-09-16 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 10 minutes
No of observers: 3

Location: Lenexa, KS, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object

What appears to be a very high, orange-like star or satellite moving across the heavens suddenly stops in its tracks.

Two friends and I were standing in my driveway talking when I noticed what looked like a satellite crossing overhead, moving north to south, slightly orange in color and about 30 degrees east of being directly overhead. I directed their attention to the object...it was very very high and moving across the sky at a speed appearing to be consistant with that of a satellite, which we know to be around 18,0000 mph. We observed this object for 2 or 3 minutes until a very unusual thing happened...it appeared to suddenly stop dead in its tracks and then remained basically stationary in the same position for approximately 10 more minutes. It gradually faded from sight, perhaps moving directly away from us and fading with distance. There is no satellite that I know of that can come to a sudden stop. Far far too high for any helicopter. I was a helicopter avionics mechanic in Viet Nam so I know that it was nothing of that nature. When it happened, We all exclaimed at the same time...It just stopped!

NUFORC Note:

We agree that it is very unusual for a satellite to stop. We do not know what the witnesses could have observed. PD

Posted 2000-09-17