NUFORC Sighting 174996

Occurred: 2023-02-28 19:59 Local
Reported: 2023-03-14 06:55 Pacific
Duration: 1 to 3 minutes
No of observers: 2

Location: At sea on a cruise ship NW of Cuba enroute to Cozumel, , Cuba
Location details: On cruise ship Celebrity Summit 1959 - 2001 hours

Shape: Orb
Characteristics: Aura or haze around object

Blue-white orb moving north to south

Initially I thought it might be the moon peaking through clouds. However, the moon was directly above me. I recognized Saturn and Jupiter to my right. (I'm an amateur astronomer.) The orb appeared to be surrounded by an aura, with a cloud that had wisps pointing in both directions. It did not have a tail. As the orb moved this aura - or cloud - moved with it. Oddly, the wisps of this cloud or aura did not change shape. Even as it was moving forward, the wisps remained pointing forward and did not appear to alter position. There was no sound. There was no blinking lights. It moved steadily, not erratically. It seemed to me to be at altitude - meaning it was above 20000 feet, but I have no way to confirm that. I have seen many things as an amateur astronomer, and I've never seen anything like this. If it was a comet, it was the brightest and fastest moving one I've ever seen. We lost sight of the object when it moved behind part of the superstructure of the ship. About a minute later we walked around it to see if we could continue following it. I thought I caught a glimpse of a pinpoint of light, but then it was gone.

Posted 2023-04-09