2000-03-02 - Springfield, MO - Unknown

Counterclockwise rotation of four lights against overcast sky.

At approx. 1900 hrs, against an overcast sky, myself and five co- workers noticed what appeared to be four widely separated lights rotating in a counterclockwise formation over the city. The lights were about the same size as my thumbnail at arms length and their for- mation was as large as both hands at armslength. As each revolution was completed, the lights converged, merged, then separated returning to position on the outer circumference of the circle. These lights were fairly bright and their shape was crisp. There was no telltale shaft of light indicating a groundbased source. The episode lasted about 25 minutes and no sounds could be heard.

((NUFORC Note: A person who read this report wrote to apprise us of its probable origin. We agree that the sighting probably was caused by a four-barrel advertising light. We receive many reports of them, and we failed to properly qualify this one. It slipped through our editing process. Our gratitude to Mr. J. N., whose correspondence we include below:

((BEGIN COPIED CORRESPONDENCE.))

Dear Mr. ((name deleted)),

Thank you very much for the message. We missed this one. I agree entirely with
your explanation. We are well aware of this type of advertising light. It
astonishes me that people can look at these lights and think that they are
looking at "flying saucers," but when one deals with the American public, he has
to be ready to handle anything.

Thank you again for the message. I will try to put a statement in the report.

Cordially,

Peter Davenport
--
Peter B. Davenport, Director
National UFO Reporting Center
PO Box 45623
University Station
Seattle, WA 98145
director@ufocenter.com
http://www.UFOcenter.com
Hotline: 206-722-3000 (From 8AM to Midnight Pacific preferred)


((name deleted)) wrote:

> There is a post with the following info on your website:
> 3/2/00 19:00 Springfield MO Unknown Counterclockwise rotation of four lights
> against overcast sky. 4/1/00 X
>
> I live in Sedalia, MO 2 hours north of Springfield. My wife and I were in
> Springfield a few weeks ago and we saw the same thing that this person
> reported (the 4 converging lights). Upon investigation we found that it was
> coming from a spotlight next to Steak'N'Shake (where we decided to eat) on
> Glenstone Ave. I got a good giggle at the thought that someone actually
> thought this was a UFO. My wife and I have seen a few unexplainable lights
> around here within the last year. Next time we will report it - although we
> are a little reluctant to, considering we live 15 miles from Whiteman AFB.
> Keep up the great work Peter!
>
> Always fascinated,
((name deleted))

((END OF COPIED CORRESPONDENCE))