NUFORC Sighting 54389

Occurred: 2007-01-01 00:01 Local
Reported: 2007-01-03 16:13 Pacific
Duration: 10 min
No of observers: 2

Location: Windsor, CA, USA

Shape: Light

Series of 17 unidentifiable lights cross the skies of Northern California

At midnight, Jan 1st of 2007, we stepped out on the deck for New Years and observed a bright Satellite moving Southeast from the Northwest. Magnitude was as great as Mars at it's closest.

Then 2 more appeared behind the roof into view, so we stepped out to see if there were more moving across the sky.

17 lights in total, all within 70 degrees of each other moving South-East from the North-West. All were the same brightness and color. A bright Orange to reddish.

As the first 3-4 moved through the 12 o'clock(meridian) they started to change course. A few slowed then turned about 90 degrees and out of the path, then a few faded and made a left 270. 2 actually stopped, as noted against a clear sky of stars and a bright moon. All in all, about 7 or 8 "danced" overhead, the rest continued on course.

At this point I recalled we had just bought a new video camera so I ran in, grabbed it and shot the last few minutes of the "satellites" continuing across the sky. At this point, pretty much all those that had not faded were continuing SE bound.

Since moving into the country from the city 5 years ago, watching satellites and meteors has become one of my families evening pastimes. We are quite adept at this pastime now and can identify the difference between Satellites, Space Station, Etc. and Aircraft. And I have spent the better part of my 36 years, watching aircraft, As well, I am employed as an ((deleted--aviation specialist.)). So something like this event really stood out.

There were no contrails visible as they would have been with the moon as a backlight. There were no stobe lights or red and green wings lights as associated with A/C. There was no sound associable with these "satellites". The time for the "Non Dancing" lights to traverse the sky was about 9 minutes, the same as a satellite or the Space Shuttle.

A quiet check of the net did show that the prevailing winds aloft were moving in the same direction.

Lighted Weather Balloons? ROV's? I truly hope someone else who might have noticed these lights will also report something.

Posted 2007-02-01