2004-08-16 - Billings, MT - Light

It was a reoccuring visual object then followed by an occurrence of thunderous noise in the same area.

We were camped on Buster Creek about 40 miles South of Billings, Mt. in a rural setting approximately twenty miles West of Yellowtail Dam in Montana.

I had a camp fire light and hanging lantern light in my eyes and still saw this extremely bright blue-white light appear in the sky at about 35 degrees above the horizon almost directly east of our position. I called my wife to look and she and a son of 11 also saw it. It became extremely bright and huge, probably four times the size of the glowing Saturn. Then as if clicked off, it turned to a dot like the smallest star in the sky and turned southward. It proceeded that direction appearing as a satellite, until we lost sight of it. It made no sound and had no other disquishing lights such as wing markers or strobes on an aircraft as we know.

Then again on the next evening about 30 minutes later, the light appeared in the same area, shining through a layer of clouds. I could see no other stars in the sky due to the clouds. Again there was no noise or other lights. This time two other adults saw it. When the bright light dimmed as it did the previous night, we could not track it due to the clouds.

Then on the night of the 19th of August we had company of two attorneys and one of their spouses at our camp. They were all from New Mexico. We were eating a late meal when we heard two loud booms like dynamite going off in the sky followed by a three thunderous, rolling booms that shook the earth, trees and camp tent. The enormous thunderous roll then turned to a vibrating thunder sound which then receded. I have never in my 60 years heard anything to compare this vibrating thunder sound with. I am also a pilot and have heard sonic booms. This was almost frightening in comparison.

Relatives of ours also heard this noise 20 miles distant but thought it was thunder as they were inside their homes. Another ranch couple only a few miles away were rattled in their bed by what they could only describe as thunder from somewhere. We at the camp had a clear view of the entire night sky and there was not a cloud from horizon to horizon.

I have no idea what any of this was including the light. It is strange to have three unusual events in such short time frames and in the same area. I have been in that area for most of my life and have never witnessed anything similar.

We are just hopeful that maybe someone else saw the same things and can bear witness to what we saw and heard. Neither the light we saw nor the sound are anything I can say was normal no matter how much I try to reason it out. We were somewhat reluctant to post this but will never hear from anyone else unless we do.