2011-12-18 - Exeland, WI - Light

"satellite" stopped in the sky

Sunday, December 18th, 2011.

I was at my father’s house in Exeland, WI. I stepped out on his southern porch to smoke a cigarette sometime between 7:00pm and 9:00pm.

I was looking up at the stars, as usual, scanning for satellites and/or shooting stars. I have watched many satellites from his porch, including watching the space station go over a few years back.

I spotted what I assumed to be a satellite (just a small steady white light) moving in a straight line, at a consistent speed, from east to west overhead. I followed it’s trajectory with my eyes across the sky, glad that I had spotted one and planning to watch it until it disappeared behind the trees to the west.

It went normally until it had crossed about 75% of the sky within my vision, and then it stopped. The light did not change in any way. It did not sparkle or flash…it just stopped.

I continued to stare at it until I finished my cigarette, and it did not move again.