NUFORC Sighting 50682

Occurred: 2006-05-21 21:55 Local
Reported: 2006-05-23 04:33 Pacific
Duration: Approx 1 Minute
No of observers: 2

Location: Richmond, VA, USA

Shape: Triangle

Triangle of lights traveling SSW to NNE

We were observing planets with my 10" scope and attempting to pick up satallite passages.

While attempting unsuccessfully to observe the orbit of the Cosmos 2369 rocket scheduled to travel SSW to NNE and exit our field of vision at about 21:50 and looking to the NNE, suddenly observed directly overhead this triangular formation of lights traveling in approximately the same direction at a relatively rapid rate of speed. It was a stunning sight and I hurredly called it to the attention of my companion. The formation proceeded in the direction of VEGA, passed to the west of it, veered off to the East and disappeared from our view. The formation was about the size of my hand held at arms length. It was impossible to determine its height. There was no sound at any point. It consisted of about 6-8 indivdual lights. The lights were not spots, but vertical with a slight bulge in the middle. The formation was somewhat triangular, vertical on its left side and sloping slightly outward on the right side. It was traveling wide end or bottom forward. There was no variance in spacing or intensity of the lights nor variation in speed. The night was clear with no haze or cloud cover. The phenomena appeared as if it could have been produced by a searchlight but there was no cover upon which it could have been reflected and no variation in the light as would be seen if on cloud or haze cover. The light was soft and about a 1 in intensity. It did not reappear. There was no airplane traffic in the area prior to, during, or until some time after the sighting. No object per se was observable.

NUFORC Note:

Possible sighting of U. S. Navy "NOSS" triplet of satellites?? PD

Posted 2006-07-16