2004-05-15 - Racine, WI - Light

While looking into the night sky, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the comet that was on the weather report, I was looking at the big dipper and noticed a bright light, as bright as the stars around it and seemed to be as high, it was moving from south to north. I watched the light move in a straight line for about 8 seconds, then it disappeared for about 5 seconds and reappeared a short distance from the first sighting as though it was traveling at a constant velocity. It disappeared again and reappeared about 3 seconds later a short distance from the last appearance and going in the same direction only this time the white light got very bright and tunnel like as though a massive spotlight was shined in my direction. The spotlight effect lasted for about 3 seconds and then disappeared. After about 5 seconds I saw what looked like a comets tail in a redish orange and white mix (what was creating the tail was not visible) originating along the same line of motion as the lights but considerably farther north. This comet like tail made a large arc towards the ground and disappeared long before it would have hit the ground. It should be noted that when the light became a comet like tail, it accelerated to what I would estimate, based on seeing high altitude airlines flying at what I assume is 500 mph, to be moving at 4000+ mph. I think this may have been a decaying satelite but the white light especially the super white light with the tunnel effect has me wondering.