NUFORC Sighting 47794

Occurred: 2005-11-18 18:35 Local
Reported: 2005-11-18 23:22 Pacific
Duration: 15 minutes
No of observers: 0

Location: Wilmington, NC, USA

Shape: Unknown

Saw a small, bright object move across the sky, come to a complete stop, and begin flying in circles.

The object was about the size of a plane in the night sky. It was bright white, with no blinking lights at all. I assumed it was a satellite or possibly the International Space Station, as any airplane flying that low would surely have visible blinking lights.

Two friends and I (all of whom are, in fact, college students) saw the light move east across the sky in a straight path. It was somewhat faster than an airplane, but still slow enough for us to stand and watch it move for a good minute or so.

Then the object came to a complete stop in the sky, just above Mars. We continued watching it further, and the object grew considerably fainter. Then, it began to slowly fly in irregular circles for about ten minutes or so before finally fading away.

All three of us saw it move across the sky, stop, and begin circling, and all of us agreed on the direction it was moving.

((

NUFORC Note:

The ISS pass over Wilmington at 18:11-18:15 hrs. on this date. Hence, if the time above is approximate, the witnesses may have been witness to its overflight.

17 Nov 1.3 17:45:35 10 N 17:47:14 14 NNE 17:48:21 12 NE
17 Nov 2.7 19:19:53 10 WNW 19:19:58 11 WNW 19:19:58 11 WNW
18 Nov -0.3 18:11:01 10 NNW 18:13:50 40 NE 18:14:35 33 ENE
19 Nov 0.5 18:37:21 10 WNW 18:40:11 40 SW 18:41:12 29 S
20 Nov -0.5 17:28:22 10 NW 17:31:16 47 NE 17:34:08 10 ESE

http://www.heavens-above.com/passsummary.asp?lat=34.226&lng=-77.945&alt=6&loc=Wilmington&TZ=EST&satid=25544&Date=38668.7083333333&Mag=

PD))

Posted 2005-12-16