NUFORC Sighting 38846

Occurred: 2004-08-23 23:10 Local
Reported: 2004-08-23 22:01 Pacific
Duration: 5-7 mins
No of observers: 1

Location: Greenville, SC, USA

Shape: Triangle
Characteristics: Lights on object

Strange Triangle Hovering/Moving slowly then vanishing.

When I first saw it I was heading east on I-185 right at the intersection of I-85 and I-185. It was about 75 degrees up to the north of the road. There were 4 white lights, about 1.5 the birghtness of venus in a line along what appeared to be the back over a distance of about 1.5x the diameter of a full moon. Centered on the 4 back lights about the diameter of the moon away was another white light. About half way between the single light and the middle of the 4 lights there was one red light, slightly brighter than the white ones. It appeared to be facing west(the single white light was to the west of the 4 white ones. It did not appear to be moving at all at this time(about 45 seconds). I exited onto I-85 south and went south ~2 miles and turned around at that exit and went back to try and find a place where I could get out to look at it safely.

When I arrived back it was to the south of I-185. It was moving very slowly south parallel to I-85. It was at about 65 degrees up. From this angle there were 2 white lights, the same distance apart as the farthest of the line of 4, and there was a red light, about 1/4 the diamater of the moon above the middle of the white lights. I watched it for about a minute, while glancing at road enough to stay on it(wide interstate, so not much). I glanced at the road and looked back. It was gone. It is possible that it flew into a cloud, because it wasn't too far from the moon in the sky which was temporarly behind a cloud. The cloud moved on leaving a clear sky in the direction. I turned around and headed back towards 85 then south. There was no more sign of the object the rest of my trip home.

There are reguarly planes in the area, and I watch them reguarly. This was moving much slower(didn't move for about 45 secs), than any I've seen that were heading to land, or taking off from any airports in the are, also appeared larger than these usually do.

Posted 2004-08-24