Witnessed object for about 15 seconds. Looked like a rocket launch
I just witnessed what I believe to be a launch rocket launch. I live in central Arizona and just minutes ago at approximately 7:00P.M. Arizona time, I was outside looking west, watching an airplane flying west when I noticed a bright flash about 30 degrees above the horizon almost due west. The object had an elongated shape like a rocket and was pointing and moving upwards. It looked to be about one third the length of a straight pin held at arms length. I followed the object upwards for about 10 to 15 seconds to an angle of about 45 degrees. The object started to emit a vapor trail for about one second and then the whole thing disappeared from sight. I hope it was a launch from Vandenburg AFB.
((NUFORC Note: A test launch was announced for this date, although the time indicated by the witness is apparoximately 1 hour later than the original launch "window." As indicated below, the launch was scheduled to take place up to 16:59 hrs. (Pacific Daylight Time):
APR 17 11:00-16:59 Minuteman III? ICBM test launch (non-orbital)
Our thanks to Brian Webb for his Launch Alert data.))
I just witnessed what I believe to be a launch rocket launch. I live in central Arizona and just minutes ago at approximately 7:00P.M. Arizona time, I was outside looking west, watching an airplane flying west when I noticed a bright flash about 30 degrees above the horizon almost due west. The object had an elongated shape like a rocket and was pointing and moving upwards. It looked to be about one third the length of a straight pin held at arms length. I followed the object upwards for about 10 to 15 seconds to an angle of about 45 degrees. The object started to emit a vapor trail for about one second and then the whole thing disappeared from sight. I hope it was a launch from Vandenburg AFB.
((NUFORC Note: A test launch was announced for this date, although the time indicated by the witness is apparoximately 1 hour later than the original launch "window." As indicated below, the launch was scheduled to take place up to 16:59 hrs. (Pacific Daylight Time):
APR 17 11:00-16:59 Minuteman III? ICBM test launch (non-orbital)
Our thanks to Brian Webb for his Launch Alert data.))
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Cottonwood
USA
15 Sec.
15 Sec.
34.71
-112.00
cylinder
AZ
Occurred : 4/18/2000 19:00 (Entered as : 04/18/2000 19:00) Reported: 4/18/2000 19:20 Posted: 4/26/2000 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Shape: Cylinder Duration: 15 Sec. Characteristics: The object left a trail
Witnessed object for about 15 seconds. Looked like a rocket launch