1998-12-15 - Atlanta, GA - Egg

On approach to downtown atlanta via automobile (traveling east on I-20) I noticed what I thought was a military helicopter or transport (twin engines) experiencing engine trouble (1:00 high). An unusual large black cloud had been exahausted from engines (and twirled by the aircrafts prop wash) and continued as a trail of black smoke was following the copter (traveling south slightly east of hartsfield airport). Thinking that the aircraft was in trouble I has some interest in watching it. The sun was coming up and illuminated both the copter and exhaust trail. I then noticed a small (egg) object at what appeared to be a very high altitude (1:00 very high). I thought it was probably a jet flying directly over Atlanta and catching the sun, but it was unusual because it did not have the usual contrail and was traveling south very fast (same direction as aircraft but at what appeared to be a much higher altitude). The object was reflecting the sun like a mirror. The object disappeared for a second and then reappeared (or I saw a second similar object) traveling east (12:00 high) at a high rate of speed. The object zoomed east and out of sight in less than a few seconds.

Time is an estimate +- a few minutes. Sunrise was just starting. Objects appeared to be very very high. Aircraft was thumbnail size and appeared to be very high for a cargo type helicopter. Egg shaped object was about one quarter of thumbnail size (very small). *If* the object had not moved so fast and *if* the object had a contrail, I would have thought it was a military jet traveling at such altitude you could only see the sun reflecting of the aircraft. BUT, this object was small and FAST.