NUFORC Sighting 15831

Occurred: 2001-01-06 20:30 Local
Reported: 2001-01-08 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 15
No of observers: 2

Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Shape: Light

Observed a slow moving, vibrant red light that eventually turned 90 degrees, began blinking and then accelerated before disappearing.

My wife and I observed a brilliant red light suspended in the sky. To the unaided eye, it seemed motionless but with binoculars it was moving in relationship to the stars. We first noticed it just under Orion's Belt heading towards Gemini. With binoculars, it was a vibrant red light with no distinguishable features; just a beautiful red. It was as bright as Jupiter. As it passed between Castor and Pollax, it then turned 90 degrees to the East, began blinking, accelerated and then vanished. I was observing it as it vanished and I'm certain that it didn't disappear into a cloud bank or anything since I could still see stars. It was a single point of light; no other lights were present. I am an amateur astronomer and have witness many things in the Heavens, but this was the strangest event so far in my life.

Posted 2001-02-18