NUFORC Sighting 80049

Occurred: 2011-02-10 21:00 Local
Reported: 2011-02-12 20:45 Pacific
Duration: 5 minutes
No of observers: 1

Location: Ruidoso, NM, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aircraft nearby

Shimmering light appears/disappears/reappears followed by plane and an apparent air force jet

Amended report of UFO sighting:

Approximately 9:00 PM, Thursday, February 10, 2011 Ruidoso, NM

Standing on our deck facing northeast under a clear cold early nighttime sky, I sighted a star like object (slightly larger than bright planet Venus on a summer night) shimmering brightly and moving slowly in a general westerly direction. After a few seconds, the object veered north and northeast and its light disappeared (apparently making a tight U-turn).

At this time I thought I was witnessing the landing lights of an aircraft coming in for a landing. However, the lack of lights on the wings and tail was curious. Seconds later, the object reappeared farther west than where I had last seen it. And again, a few seconds later, it veered north and northeast and its light was extinguished.

It reappeared a second time, again further west, but shortly thereafter the object flew behind tall pine trees that obstructed my view. Throughout the episode I did not hear any sound emanating from the object.

Approximately 10-15 seconds after I lost sight of the object, I observed a high flying plane in the eastern sky also moving in a westerly direction. I felt that the aircraft was following the object that I saw, but keeping a safe distance away.

Minutes later after entering my house and telling my wife what I saw, a jet approached from the east (possibly from Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo?) and roared overhead, again traveling in a general westerly direction.

I am a retired public school mathematics teacher...and I must admit that this is the first time I have ever witnessed such an unusual event.

Posted 2011-02-18