NUFORC Sighting 71702

Occurred: 2009-08-12 22:00 Local
Reported: 2009-08-16 23:25 Pacific
Duration: 2 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Spokane Valley, WA, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Changed Colo

Bright light, changing color from white to red, moving east over Spokane Valley, WA

At approximately 22:00 on August 12, 2009, I had stepped out the front door of my residence when I observed a bright white light in the sky directly overhead moving due east (090 degrees).

I initially believed it to be a satellite since I often see satellites at this time of evening, however. I immediately realized that there was an area of solid cloud cover obscuring the stars at approximately 2,000 ft. AGL. The object was below the cloud cover. I estimated its speed to be 50-60 mph.

The object made no discernable sound, and had no apparent shape or nagivation, wingtip or landing lights.

After observing the object for approximately one minute, the object entered a cloud for approximately 10 seconds. When it emerged, it had changed color from white to solid red and had changed heading to north-northeast, about 060 degrees. At that time, I called my wife to come see it. By the time she came outside, the object was some distance away, but she was able to see the object's color and direction of travel. We continued to observe the object until it had passed out of sight behind distant trees.

The local television station, KXLY, reported a story regarding observations by other witnesses in the area of the same or similar objects in the same timeframe on August 12.

I have worked in military and civil aviation for more than 20 years as a maintenance technician and aviation consultant. In addition, aviation history is a hobby of mine. I have observed most types of commercial, military and civil aircraft operating in many different types of weather and lighting conditions. The appearance of the object I observed is not consistent with any type of fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft with which I am familiar.

Posted 2009-08-27