1998-05-20 - Burlington, VT - Light

On May 20, 1998, at 22:40, I was drawn to my 3rd floor studio apartment window (western side of building) by some noise on the street below. After I located the origin of the noise below my open window, I raised my eyes to look west, out over Lake Champlain which lies between New York state and Vermont. I saw what appeared to be 2 wingtip landing lights from a heavy jet aircraft, such as a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy, yet steady and no noise was heard. I quickly ascertained that the lights were far too spread apart and far too bright to be aircraft lights. After approx. 10 seconds from initial sighting, the 2 lights began to converge, left light moving toward the right light. At 15 seconds the 2 were very close together and began to head in a northerly direction, left to right from my westward looking viewpoint. However, during the last 5 seconds (approx.), the lights became smaller and smaller, then completely vanished at approx. 20 seconds from initial sighting, both still moving left to right.

Detailed Report--This sighting occurred while in my 3rd floor studio apartment in my city of residence, Burlington, VT, on or about May 20, 1998, at 22:40. I was drawn to my window (western side of building) by some noise on the street below. About 15 teenagers, were skateboarding southbound on the street I live on, producing a low pitch roaring sound on the pavement below. After watching them for a couple of minutes, they were nearly out of sight. I raised my eyes toward the western horizon, looking out over Lake Champlain which lies between New York state and Vermont, I saw 2 steady white lights at an elevation of 20 to 25 degrees above the horizon, and 5 times the brightness of the star Sirius, at approx