NUFORC Sighting 102043

Occurred: 2013-09-02 22:45 Local
Reported: 2013-09-08 22:00 Pacific
Duration: 15 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: Everett, WA, USA

Shape: Fireball

I observed an orange fireball about1/6 the size of the moon, traveling across the sky at a moderate speed twice in a 10 minute period.

At 22:45, 09/02/13 I was at home in bed sleeping in an upstairs bedroom. I awoke and needed to go to the bathroom. I got up and walked across the room and stopped at a sliding glass door to an upper deck and looked out. The house is surrounded by trees, however looking straight West there is about a 15 degree brake in the trees where I could see the sky. Looking into this brake about 20 degrees above the horizon I could see an orange fireball coming across the sky at a moderate speed from NW to SE. This object was about as bright as the moon and probably 1/6th the size of the moon if the moon had been at the same location in the sky. I proceeded out onto the deck for a better look. I called for my wife, who was watching TV down stairs. The object proceed in a straight line for about 60 seconds and then started a slow right turn which brought it’s path to pass behind some tree tops. My wife and I could still see the object as it continued the turn u! ntil it seemed to be going to the West where after another 45 seconds it disappeared.

I continued to the bathroom and returned to the doorway after about four to five minutes. I looked out and again saw the object. I called my wife and walked back out on the deck again. The object again was coming across the sky from the NW to the SE pretty much in the same position. Moving at the same speed, and in the same direction. As it neared again it started a right turn, however, this turn was a little wider and eventually was obscured by the trees. I watched the sky for another 30 minutes and never saw it again.

I am a retired professional pilot with a long career flying general aviation aircraft from crop dusters to corporate jets. I still own and fly my own personal aircraft. I am very used to observing all type of man made objects in the sky. This is definitely not like any flying object I have ever seen before.

Posted 2013-09-09