1999-02-23 - Pomona,, CA - Sphere

((NUFORC Note: This event occurred at the same time that a missile was launched over the Pacific Ocean. In subsequent communications, the observer stated that he believes that what he and the other witness observed was not a missile launch. However, it is the feeling that what the individual describes here is indistiguishable from the known missile launch.))


Classic very bright to golden-orange fireball

On February 23, 1999, at 2:30 A.M., my friend Brenda and I were driving on the 10 freeway heading west towards Los Angeles, just east of the 215 freeway (see map of Pamona, California) when we noticed at approximately 8-12,000 feet at approximately 60-75 degrees above the horizon looking through the front windshield, a very bright golden orange fireball traveling from what appeared to be the North East heading in a South Westerly direction. The very bright fireball appeared about as large as the end of one of my index finger. I was amazed because this supposed fireball or shooting star was moving very slowly and the tail was equally as bright at the circular shape of the object as it was bright at the very tip of the tail. The tail was so finely pointed, as though it were as sharp as the tip of a needle. The flared trail was clear and bright and did not flicker or have a smoke trail like a comet or shooting star does. We both watched this in astonishment moving at what seemd like about the speed of a car on the freeway (70 MPH) although it was difficult to read speed. This was very slow compared to a shooting star. After about 20 seconds or so, the flared tail and the very bright golden-orange light cut out, as though a rocket or thruster engine was turned off. Now the object appeared round or diamond shaped (and had the appearance of a solid structure) and had a few very small lights (2-3) on and coasted in a straight line in the same direction for about another minute or so before we lost sight of it on the horizon and behind a mountain. There were a number of airplanes in the sky not far from the object which must have seen it. Because there were airplanes with their flashing lights on, you could clearly distinguish the vast difference in light and character of this extremely bright fireball/craft and an airplane. The airplane lights were not even comparable to the clear brightness of this fireball/craft. There were a few drivers/cars on the road which we thought must have also seen the objec! t which was so striking in the night city sky.

Additional information about my sighting.

This is in addition to the report I just made. I just received an e-mail from ((Name deleted))I, NASA's Head of Astrochemistry. While the orange fireball my friend Brenda and I saw moved across the sky for a minute or so, I estimated that it was traveling at a speed similar to our car (70 mph). When you look at this letter from NASA, it is clear that meteors travel much faster than 70 mph. It reads: "Most meteors travel in prograde orbits near the ecliptic plane (this is up to + or - 23 degrees from the equator, depending on the season). This means that any meteors that you see from outside earth should travel roughly parallel paths; most meteors have velocities greater than 20 km/s - some travel slower, most travel faster. 20 km/sec comes to 72,000 km per hour. As you can see, what I saw was traveling much slower than 72,000 kilometers per hour. How then could it have been a meteor?