NUFORC Sighting 88875

Occurred: 2012-03-02 22:00 Local
Reported: 2012-05-10 00:50 Pacific
Duration: 15 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Shape: Cylinder

Amber/Red-colored Chinese lanterns

Roughly around 10pm, I was driving west on I-60. Either just east or west of I-101, I looked out my driver's side window (which was closed at the time) and spotted 2 amber/red cylinders floating above the 15ft+ barrier wall that aligned outer edge of east-bound lanes. I opened my window to get a better look while I slowly began to pass them. They looked like small (~2 ft diameter) Chinese lanterns. Light emitted from an orb-like mass in the middle of each lantern; the outter cylinder-shaped body seemed to be lit by this orb. I could tell neither the orbs nor the lanterns were made-up of no ordinary light because they were radiant yet soft, dense hi-def but misty. Hard to explain.

They gently floated along and shifted positions (in relation to each other). Then I saw one lantern float into the other, merging into 1 cylinder (which maintained its size). I continued to keep my eye on them/it (and the road...) but eventually the rubbernecking reached an uncomfortable angle. I turned off at the next exit and flipped around, but they/it were/was gone. The reason why I'm not sure if they were amber or red is because I remember them being both of those colors (together, i.e. they matched) yet I have no recollection of noticing them change; one second they were amber and the next they were red, and I have no idea how they pulled off that fast one. They were pretty. Seemed to have an air of intelligence about them. Just got that kind of vibe.

Posted 2012-05-13