2005-03-23 - Tinley Park, IL - Triangle

South and east of Frankfort, IL, approximately over nearby Tinley Park, myself (52) and my two daughters (13 and 10) observed three bright red lights that kept changing positions relative to one another. They formed a triangle (in the sky with one top light and two lower lights as a base), a slash (diagonal alignment) and a side by side formation a relatively straight line. They maneuvered very quickly, changing positions in somewhat of an aero (astro) batic motion. We followed lights for a distance of approximately 5 miles. After 20 minutes or so, they suddenly vanished. I saw red lights but my daughters who didn't have the distration of driving also saw white and yellow elements. After they disappeared we parked in an unlit area to maintain a watch on the sky. We observed several very slow moving aircraft making a great circle approximately around the sighting area. Could not tell if they were commercial or military flights. While watching the sky we also observed some other very high and swift moving objects that were very likely satellites. At approximately 21:30 we saw a very slow moving aircraft loop this area making a very severe right bank to change its southbound course, through the west to the north, roughly parallel to La Grange Rd. (Rt. 45); that craft went north to the horizon and then proceeded along that north horizon to disappear to our northeast. Unsure if this craft was related to the sighting. We broke off our observations at 21:35 and headed home (Frankfort). My older daughter thought she saw a smaller object detach from one of the three red lights.

We had seen one of the August 24th red lights take a similar route before it too disappeared.