NUFORC Sighting 176741

Occurred: 2023-07-11 22:00 Local
Reported: 2023-07-13 09:30 Pacific
Duration: 1 minute
No of observers: 4

Location: Hubbardston, MI, USA
Location details: 43.11824613820986, -84.7746931744684

Shape: Orb
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby, Animals reacted

Small bluish orb followed by Army Blackhawk helicopter

While we were visiting friends in a very rural area in Michigan, we went outside after dark to see the stars, when to the north we heard the unmistakable sound of a Blackhawk helicopter flying north to south about a half mile east of our location. As it a got closer to our location we noticed a small (10' diameter) faintly glowing orb about 1/4 mile ahead of the helicopter at the same altitude (less than 2k feet). The helicopter and the orb were traveling at least 100 mph. The skies were completely clear and crisp. We observed them for over 1 minute until they traveled over the horizon to our south-southeast. My friend has lived in this area all of his life and has rarely seen any military aircraft, particularly one flying so low. The object in question made absolutely no sound. I worked for the DoD for 12 years and lived near military bases all my life and I'm very familiar with Blackhawk helicopters as well as the many other aircraft in the inventory - the orb was something I've never observed. For what it's worth, the many cicadas and crickets that are normally chirping, went completely silent during this incident and did not resume for at least 30 minutes after.

Posted 2023-07-29