Large orange light moving out of the w.s.w. to the e.s.e over lancaster, ca. area 02:31
Large orange light approx. size and color of a mercury vapor street lamp at about 1 half mile. out of west about 5 degrees south of due west about 35 degrees above the horizon moving eastwardly. speed remained constant slightly slower than a sattilite, however did appear to have a woble.
At about 60 degees above the horizon I was able to get binoculars and observed a smaller light in close proximity to main body of light. Smaller object was approx. 1/10th size of main body and moved from the north side of the larger light to west side and back again.
As object reached perigee at about 8o degrees above southern horizon light began to fluctuate and then went dark. I was able to track the dark body for about 1-2 seconds after light went out at 02:34.
Sky was clear low temps,low humidity, ground level is 2600 ft asl.
First impression was probaly a meteor although no smoke or con trail was seen. Opinion has changed due second sighting 9 days later which I will fill out a second report for.
Should be noted that Vandenburg AFB is about 160 miles due west of my house and I have seen rocket launches from Lancaster this was not a launch as Vandenburg shoot to the west.
Secondly Lockheed Skunk Works is located 5 miles south of me and Edwards AFB is 11 miles north east. I have seen many of the latest airplnes that test at edwards the object I saw did not appear to be terestrial.
Large orange light approx. size and color of a mercury vapor street lamp at about 1 half mile. out of west about 5 degrees south of due west about 35 degrees above the horizon moving eastwardly. speed remained constant slightly slower than a sattilite, however did appear to have a woble.
At about 60 degees above the horizon I was able to get binoculars and observed a smaller light in close proximity to main body of light. Smaller object was approx. 1/10th size of main body and moved from the north side of the larger light to west side and back again.
As object reached perigee at about 8o degrees above southern horizon light began to fluctuate and then went dark. I was able to track the dark body for about 1-2 seconds after light went out at 02:34.
Sky was clear low temps,low humidity, ground level is 2600 ft asl.
First impression was probaly a meteor although no smoke or con trail was seen. Opinion has changed due second sighting 9 days later which I will fill out a second report for.
Should be noted that Vandenburg AFB is about 160 miles due west of my house and I have seen rocket launches from Lancaster this was not a launch as Vandenburg shoot to the west.
Secondly Lockheed Skunk Works is located 5 miles south of me and Edwards AFB is 11 miles north east. I have seen many of the latest airplnes that test at edwards the object I saw did not appear to be terestrial.
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Lancaster
USA
3 minutes
3 minutes
34.72
-118.16
fireball
CA
Occurred : 3/10/2005 02:31 (Entered as : 03/10/2005 02:31) Reported: 3/19/2005 6:51:45 PM 18:51 Posted: 5/11/2005 Location: Lancaster, CA Shape: Fireball Duration: 3 minutes Characteristics: The object emitted other objects
Large orange light moving out of the w.s.w. to the e.s.e over lancaster, ca. area 02:31