Summary : Bright, arc-white light observed moving fromWSW to ENE at high speed. Altitude roughly500 metres (1500 feet). Distance at start ofsighting roughly 5 KM (8 mi.), distance atend of sighting roughly 8 KM (12 mi.)Light seemed to have tinges of colour at certain points in sighting: pink, red, orange. Speed comparable with Mirage F1 CZ at Mach 1+.
I stepped out of my back door, and as is myhabit, I scanned the range of hills roughly1 KM north of my house. I observed thislight moving in the direction indicated (WNWto ENE), and when first observed, the objectappeared just above the hills to the West,altitude about 500 metres. Object moveddiagonally across my line of sight until Ilost it behind the hills directly North ofmy position. From what I can therefore extra-polate, it moved roughly 9 KMs in 10-15seconds. That's about between 2100 and 3200KM per hour (1300 mph - 2000 mph). No soundwhatsoever, but at Mach speeds. Should havecaused a sonic boom, at that altitude.Light was extremely bright, white: almost likean arc-light. No strobes or pulsation, justthe slight colour change that could have beendue to haze or pollution (it's winter here, and at 18:30it's just gone fully dark).My background: 35 year old male.Current occupation:((three lines of credentials deleted)). Live in Pretoria, home of 2 AFB's (Waterkloof & Zwartkops).
I stepped out of my back door, and as is myhabit, I scanned the range of hills roughly1 KM north of my house. I observed thislight moving in the direction indicated (WNWto ENE), and when first observed, the objectappeared just above the hills to the West,altitude about 500 metres. Object moveddiagonally across my line of sight until Ilost it behind the hills directly North ofmy position. From what I can therefore extra-polate, it moved roughly 9 KMs in 10-15seconds. That's about between 2100 and 3200KM per hour (1300 mph - 2000 mph). No soundwhatsoever, but at Mach speeds. Should havecaused a sonic boom, at that altitude.Light was extremely bright, white: almost likean arc-light. No strobes or pulsation, justthe slight colour change that could have beendue to haze or pollution (it's winter here, and at 18:30it's just gone fully dark).My background: 35 year old male.Current occupation:((three lines of credentials deleted)). Live in Pretoria, home of 2 AFB's (Waterkloof & Zwartkops).
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Off
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Pretoria (South Africa)
South Africa
10-15 sec
10-15 sec
light
Occurred : 6/26/1997 18:23 (Entered as : 06/26/97 18:23 SAST) Reported: 6/27/1997 03:01 Posted: 1/28/1999 Location: Pretoria (South Africa), Shape: Light Duration: 10-15 sec
Bright, arc-white light observed moving fromWSW to ENE at high speed. Altitude roughly500 metres (1500 feet). Distance at start ofsight