1979-08-10 - Tinley Park, IL - Light

I wondered what idiot helicopter pilot was hovering so dangerously close above me

Traveling west on 175th St in an undeveloped area, I approached a stop sign at 80th Ave. When I stopped I became aware of a red light hovering above my car (there were no electric signals at this intersection). My first thought was that it was a helicopter, and I was wondering what idiot was flying so low! It didn't seem to move, so I looked up through the windshield of my car, but could not see anything except the light. As I looked, the light 'took off' to the west, and within a second or two was a pinpoint red dot, then disappeared.

The area I was in was, at the time, all rural undeveloped prairie and farmland. It was very dark, and there was no other traffic and very little artificial light in the far distance. Not until the light disappeared did I realize that there had been no sound or turbulence that might be expected of a helicopter in flight. I don't know what it was, but I will never forget it. I sat at the stop sign for several minutes before proceeding to my destination.