NUFORC Sighting 79369

Occurred: 2010-12-25 18:50 Local
Reported: 2010-12-25 15:36 Pacific
Duration: 4-5 seconds originally
No of observers: 2

Location: Coventry (UK/England), , United Kingdom

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

Incredibly bright Golden Light interrupts Xmas dinner

Whilst eating Christmas dinner and watching the Christmas episode of Doctor Who a bright light caught my attention through the window of the, south facing, living room. It was an intense golden colour surrounded by an orange halo effect, i would estimate it appeared to be roughly 4 times the apparent size of Jupiter, which was visible in the South. I called my friend's attention to the light which was travelling far too quickly to be a Chinese lantern. The object was on a West by North to East by South trajectory appropriately 30 degrees above the horizon. We could hear no engine noise and I had time to reach the back door and open it to hear no noise before it vanished.

The weather conditions at the time were clear skies, temperature of about -4 degrees Celsius with calm conditions, what little breeze there was was from a SW direction and was measured at 2 K mph by local weather stations.

The ISS was on the other side of the world and this object, I would estimate had an apparent magnitude of about -6, ergo brighter than the ISS ever appears to be and considerably brighter than Venus.

9it is hard to estimate the objects height. First assumption was Chinese Lantern but it moved wholly to quickly to be unpowered and simply blown by any wind. Given the brightness of the object, had it been a helicopter or aircraft light, the noise of the engines should have been plainly audible even through double glazed windows. Having managed to make it to the back door to open it as the object was passing from view, again had it been an aircraft or helicopter there should have been audible engine noise, however there was none. I estimate the object covered 3/5 ths of the visible sky , from my back garden, in 10-12 seconds. The object would have been spotted earlier but for a curtain being drawn across 1/3 of the room's window. I would further pint out that the object caught my eye, the other witness was facing away from the window, whilst watching TV from a lit room, 1x 100 watt bulb, 2 x 60 watt lamps, which again gives some idea of how intensely bright the light was.

There are two airports in the vicinity of Coventry, Baginton, to the South East of Coventry itself and Birmingham international, some 15 miles North West of Coventry. I am use to seeing traffic around the area , including police and rescue helicopters. I have not, as yet, seen any such craft carrying only a single visible light commensurate with that we saw tonight and neither has my co witness, who lives in an apartment block close by and has a great view of the sky most nights. I scanned the sky as the object vanished, from my viewpoint at the back door and their appeared to be no other visible traffic in the air at that time.

Posted 2011-01-05

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