2004-12-31 - Santiago (Chile) - Rectangle

Very bright red-orange "blinking" light in northern horizon (west of Pleiades) - brighter than Mars, two sightings, Santiago, Chile

For about ten minutes, approximately 23:15 hours Santiago, Chile time (21:15 hours EST time)a very bright orange-red light, way too big to be a planet, and certainly not in the right place or time for Mars, at approximately half-way between the horizon and the Pleiades (but further west) stood still but shining on and off. At first I thought it may have been related to early New Year's celebrations, but there were no noises, no fireworks at all. I ran into the house to get my wife and three of my children. All of them saw the strange sight, but did not give it much importance. I ran into the house a second time to get my binoculars, and remained focused on the bright light for a few minutes. The light then started moving for the first time, and disappeared, turning white. Even my children could see it fading with the naked eye. There is no way that this could have been a plane, or a satellite, or a helicopter. It was stationary for too long, and then disappeared too fast, turning white as it faded. This is the first time that I have seen such a strange object. Despite being New Year's Eve, I have to add that I have not had a drop to drink, and neither have the rest of my family! After I wrote the above, my children called me, just before midnight (Santiago time) to report that the light was back! We all rushed outside, and just before the official midnight fireworks, there was the bright orange-red light again, in the same place! At about 24:05 Santiago time (22:05 EST time), the red-orange light started fading again, turning white at the end, as before. This was not in the place of the fireworks, and was completely unrelated.