2007-10-15 - Aurora, CO - Sphere

Spherical metallic object seen in broad daylight above University Hospital.

16:00 – I’m a cancer researcher at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Aurora, Colorado.

I left the research complex a bit early today and began walking to my car. When I reached my car, I opened the door to get in, and I momentarily turned back toward the research buildings.

I saw a large object in the sky, and a quick comparison allowed me to estimate its altitude to be three times as high as the research building. This was, of course, without knowing the ultimate size of the object, or the distance at which it appeared, so altitude was merely estimated.

My first thought was a helicopter, being on the campus of a university hospital, but there was no sound - absolutely no sound. This caused me to look closer.

The object appeared to be quite large, larger than a helicopter, and spherical in shape. Metallic silver best describes the color, with flashes of reddish-silver as the object caught the bright sunlight. The object appeared to be hovering, slightly bobbing back, forth, up and down, as if it was a gigantic weightless balloon, tethered to the ground, accosted by the wind.

But the movements seemed different – as if they were defying gravity. Up, then sideways, then quickly backward. I’ve never seen any aircraft move that way. Then, suddenly, the object shot upward and was nearly out of view within a few seconds. I could still see the shining sunlight reflecting off of the object at its new altitude. Suddenly, I was able to see a smaller, white object orbiting the object, which eventually shot off into the distance. The object then ascended to an even higher altitude.

I sat down in my car, and rapidly opened my window. The object was still visible. I pulled out my phone and called my mother. As she answered, I told her that I was seeing my first U.F.O. – and being a scientist, I wanted to rule out natural phenomena. I mentioned the helicopter idea, but we both shot that down. I mentioned an airplane – not likely. A balloon? It rose too quickly. We couldn’t figure it out.

Then, as if on cue, a helicopter appeared from behind the hospital. It passed through the general area where I had originally seen the unidentified object. This was clearly a helicopter, it was smaller than the object, I could see the red and white paint, and I could make out the unmistakable sounds of the rotors. It was a perfect controlled comparison.

Next, I was able to see a passenger airplane pass in the distance. The shape, size, and sound were unmistakable. Another perfect controlled comparison.

The object was still visible, a mere pinprick of bright light, moving slowly back and forth in the high atmosphere, reflecting sunlight every few seconds. Suddenly, the object faded from view. A few seconds later, I viewed a jet approaching the area where the object had been. I could easily see the wings and shape of the aircraft, although I couldn’t make out the exact type. The jet proceeded on its course then it disappeared on the horizon.

I waited a few more minutes, and the object appeared again. Only for a few seconds, it quickly enlarged in size and then shrank off into the distance and disappeared for good. It was 16:22 when I last saw the object.

I have no explanation for the events of this afternoon, although I can definitely say that the object was not a conventional aircraft.


((NUFORC Note: Witness elects to remain anonymous; provides no contact information. PD))