Two red-orange fireballs observed and interacted with via spotlight.
On Saturday July 30, 2011, I was out walking my dogs shortly before 9pm EDT. It was a very pleasant evening with clear skies, calm winds, temperature in the low 70’s with a dewpoint in the lower 60’s. Because I live in a very open area, adjacent to a large farm, it is always quite dark outside. As such, when walking my dogs I always take a powerful spotlight with me…to light my way and also see if I am approaching any wildlife.
I am an avid amateur astronomer, so whenever there are clear skies, I often take in the view while walking the dogs. On this particular evening, I observed a very bright "fireball" looking object on the northern horizon. The object was a brilliant red-orange color. I would rate its apparent magnitude as -4 -- comparable to Venus at its brightest or the International Space Station. The "fireball: had a distinct circular shape to it. Its apparent size was 4 times the size of Venus.
This object proceeded on a southerly course and flew directly over top of me. It took approximately 45 seconds for the object to track from the Northern horizon to a position nearly overheard. At the closest approach, I would approximate the altitude to be between 1500-2500 feet. I was able to approximate altitude because I live a few miles from a small airport (Flying W; Medford, NJ). Single engine craft on approach must adhere to a 600 ft flight level. The fireball appeared to be 2-3 times higher. This first object, after passing over me, vanished.
Within 10 seconds of the first object vanishing, I noticed a second object, exact same characteristics; once again appear on the northern horizon. At this point I asked my wife and daughter to come out and look at the object. My wife brought her Nikon D5000 (DSLR 14MP) camera. Once again, the object was a circular orb with an extremely bright red-orange light. It followed the exact same course/heading as the first craft (North to South ... straight line). Altitude was approximately 1,500 - 2,500 feet and speed was similar to that of the first object.
This time, my wife was able to take two pictures of the object. They are attached. More importantly, I grabbed my spotlight (15 million candlepower) and began to shine it directly on the object at its closest approach to us (nearly overhead). After 3 bursts of the spotlight, the bright red-orange light on the object immediately ceased. I continued to shine the light on the object and was able to observe the following: > The object appeared solid.
The object had a round, circular shape.
The object was clearly rotating or spinning in a counter-clockwise fashion.
The object appeared to be 50-60% the size of the full moon.
The object had a gray or silver color that reflected the spotlight beam.
The object was completely devoid of any sound.
The object continued on a southerly course, with no visible light, until we could no longer see it.
The duration of the second sighting was no more than 3 minutes. First appearance on Northern horizon to disappearing from view in the Southern sky.
I am an avid amateur astronomer with many years of experience. I also am very well versed in meteorology. I know what commercial and military aircraft look like, as we are in the flight path of commercial (Philadelphia International) and military (McGuire AFB) airports. I also know that the atmosphere was clear and stable at the time of the sighting. I know what most objects are in the sky-- such as planets, stars, constellations, satellites etc. I firmly believe that the object that was witnessed by my wife, daughter and me was not something that I have ever seen before. It was certainly extraordinary. I think I am most puzzled by the way the object immediately cut out its light when I focused a spotlight on it. It certainly took my breath away to see the shape, color and rotation of the solid object as I illuminated it from below.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.
((NUFORC Note: NUFORC has spoken with the three witnesses, on several occasions, and they made an appearance on a radio program, in order to talk about their sighting. All three witnesses, husband, wife, and daughter, seem to us to be exceptionally credible. PD))
On Saturday July 30, 2011, I was out walking my dogs shortly before 9pm EDT. It was a very pleasant evening with clear skies, calm winds, temperature in the low 70’s with a dewpoint in the lower 60’s. Because I live in a very open area, adjacent to a large farm, it is always quite dark outside. As such, when walking my dogs I always take a powerful spotlight with me…to light my way and also see if I am approaching any wildlife.
I am an avid amateur astronomer, so whenever there are clear skies, I often take in the view while walking the dogs. On this particular evening, I observed a very bright "fireball" looking object on the northern horizon. The object was a brilliant red-orange color. I would rate its apparent magnitude as -4 -- comparable to Venus at its brightest or the International Space Station. The "fireball: had a distinct circular shape to it. Its apparent size was 4 times the size of Venus.
This object proceeded on a southerly course and flew directly over top of me. It took approximately 45 seconds for the object to track from the Northern horizon to a position nearly overheard. At the closest approach, I would approximate the altitude to be between 1500-2500 feet. I was able to approximate altitude because I live a few miles from a small airport (Flying W; Medford, NJ). Single engine craft on approach must adhere to a 600 ft flight level. The fireball appeared to be 2-3 times higher. This first object, after passing over me, vanished.
Within 10 seconds of the first object vanishing, I noticed a second object, exact same characteristics; once again appear on the northern horizon. At this point I asked my wife and daughter to come out and look at the object. My wife brought her Nikon D5000 (DSLR 14MP) camera. Once again, the object was a circular orb with an extremely bright red-orange light. It followed the exact same course/heading as the first craft (North to South ... straight line). Altitude was approximately 1,500 - 2,500 feet and speed was similar to that of the first object.
This time, my wife was able to take two pictures of the object. They are attached. More importantly, I grabbed my spotlight (15 million candlepower) and began to shine it directly on the object at its closest approach to us (nearly overhead). After 3 bursts of the spotlight, the bright red-orange light on the object immediately ceased. I continued to shine the light on the object and was able to observe the following: > The object appeared solid.
The object had a round, circular shape.
The object was clearly rotating or spinning in a counter-clockwise fashion.
The object appeared to be 50-60% the size of the full moon.
The object had a gray or silver color that reflected the spotlight beam.
The object was completely devoid of any sound.
The object continued on a southerly course, with no visible light, until we could no longer see it.
The duration of the second sighting was no more than 3 minutes. First appearance on Northern horizon to disappearing from view in the Southern sky.
I am an avid amateur astronomer with many years of experience. I also am very well versed in meteorology. I know what commercial and military aircraft look like, as we are in the flight path of commercial (Philadelphia International) and military (McGuire AFB) airports. I also know that the atmosphere was clear and stable at the time of the sighting. I know what most objects are in the sky-- such as planets, stars, constellations, satellites etc. I firmly believe that the object that was witnessed by my wife, daughter and me was not something that I have ever seen before. It was certainly extraordinary. I think I am most puzzled by the way the object immediately cut out its light when I focused a spotlight on it. It certainly took my breath away to see the shape, color and rotation of the solid object as I illuminated it from below.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.
((NUFORC Note: NUFORC has spoken with the three witnesses, on several occasions, and they made an appearance on a radio program, in order to talk about their sighting. All three witnesses, husband, wife, and daughter, seem to us to be exceptionally credible. PD))
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Off
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Lumberton
USA
4 minutes
4 minutes
39.97
-74.81
fireball
NJ
Occurred : 7/30/2011 21:00 (Entered as : 07/30/11 21:00) Reported: 8/1/2011 10:51:24 PM 22:51 Posted: 8/7/2011 Location: Lumberton, NJ Shape: Fireball Duration: 4 minutes Characteristics: There were lights on the object, There was an aura or haze around the object, There were aircraft in the vicinity or aircraft chasing the object
Two red-orange fireballs observed and interacted with via spotlight.