Two small, dim orange lights abruptly do a 180 turn, one engaging in eratic zig-zag motions
This observation occurred at approximately 2300 hrs EDT on 5/3/07 in Buffalo, NY. The sighting was also observed by my 26 year old son. We were standing in a downtown parking lot (near Shea's Theater) when I spotted the bright star Arcturus in the eastern sky. As I looked at the star I noted a small (smaller than the star) object emitting dim, non-blinking orange light moving toward and somewhat above Arcturus from the south (my right) heading north. At first I thought it must be a very distant aircraft, but its later behavior negated that assumption.
As this first object moved past the star, I noticed a second, identical object following behind the first, and moving just below Arcturus. Once past the star, the top object (first one sighted) seemed to slow while the second object caught up with it. They moved close to one another – and then completely reversed course, now moving south (toward my right). As they did so, the bottom object engaged in a rapid up-down zig-zag pattern, which removed all doubt that these things were ordinary aircraft.
The two objects then flew off together, maintaining a constant separation, and appeared to circle around the city to the south, west, and then north. We were passengers in a car with other people so finally had to quit our observations before the objects disappeared. Again, these were tiny (compared to most visible stars), dim reddish or orange lights. We could not make out any shapes beyond that.
I am a PhD professor, geologist and planetary scientist. I teach college astronomy courses and have been avidly observing the skies for over 50 years.
This observation occurred at approximately 2300 hrs EDT on 5/3/07 in Buffalo, NY. The sighting was also observed by my 26 year old son. We were standing in a downtown parking lot (near Shea's Theater) when I spotted the bright star Arcturus in the eastern sky. As I looked at the star I noted a small (smaller than the star) object emitting dim, non-blinking orange light moving toward and somewhat above Arcturus from the south (my right) heading north. At first I thought it must be a very distant aircraft, but its later behavior negated that assumption.
As this first object moved past the star, I noticed a second, identical object following behind the first, and moving just below Arcturus. Once past the star, the top object (first one sighted) seemed to slow while the second object caught up with it. They moved close to one another – and then completely reversed course, now moving south (toward my right). As they did so, the bottom object engaged in a rapid up-down zig-zag pattern, which removed all doubt that these things were ordinary aircraft.
The two objects then flew off together, maintaining a constant separation, and appeared to circle around the city to the south, west, and then north. We were passengers in a car with other people so finally had to quit our observations before the objects disappeared. Again, these were tiny (compared to most visible stars), dim reddish or orange lights. We could not make out any shapes beyond that.
I am a PhD professor, geologist and planetary scientist. I teach college astronomy courses and have been avidly observing the skies for over 50 years.
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Off
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Yes
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Buffalo
USA
5 minutes
5 minutes
42.91
-78.86
light
NY
Occurred : 5/3/2007 23:00 (Entered as : 05/03/07 23:00) Reported: 5/4/2007 7:50:33 PM 19:50 Posted: 6/12/2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Shape: Light Duration: 5 minutes Characteristics: There were lights on the object
Two small, dim orange lights abruptly do a 180 turn, one engaging in eratic zig-zag motions