Three brightly glowing objects above sun during sunset + Fireball 2 hours later.
A few minutes after apparent sunset on 11/7/2012 5:20-5:40 I saw an object begin glowing brightly about 6-7 degrees above the horizon, at this point 3 degrees above the sun (was obscured by tree line) the object was about the same angular size as Venus, maybe a little larger. It was visible over the course of a minute, I first noticed it as a soft glowing object the same shade as the sun during sunset, but it got continuously brighter until I was able to see white light in the center, it quickly faded until it was just at the edge of my vision and then brightened up again.
During the phase where it brightened back up I noticed an identical object five degrees north of it, and 10 degrees above the horizon. This one had a much shorter life cycle of about 20-30 seconds and did not re-ignite like the first object. So transfixed was I on the second object that I did not notice what happened to the first.
After about two minutes of staring at the horizon trying to detect another I noticed a third object about 25 degrees directly above where the sun set, this one may have been in existence longer but I only saw it for about 5-10 seconds, which was enough time to point it out to a passerby to verify that my eyes were not playing tricks on me. She only noticed the contrail of a plane 10 degrees below object.
All three were exceptionally bright objects that did not move during the times they were visible (verified constantly with reference points on the Horizon), all presented with an orange glow similar to the surrounding sky during sunset, but they all at their peak brightness had a visible bright white core.
What I have concluded/believe:
1. They were not one object. Two were visible at the same time.
2. It is not an airplane, or airplanes. Angular size of light source, brightness and duration of visibility especially in close proximity to the sun would not exist without apparent motion.
3. They were not a satellite, positioning is too erratic, and they did not move. AND in order to produce a similar orange glow, light would have been reflected from the sun, but the objects were too close to the sun. The only man-made objects to pass through area between sun and earth during time specified were ISS (ZARYA), Cosmos 2278, Atlas Centaur R/B and Okean-3. None of which, according to computer program Stellarium 0.11.3, were in proper position or at proper times to be the objects spotted.
My mind first jumped to supernova, and second to aliens. Both seem equally improbable.
Location of viewer during sighting: +28° 25' 6.99", -81° 34' 49.53" (28.418608, -81.580426) In addition to these viewings at 7:52 a fireball/shooting star fell in the exact same region of the sky as the position of the aforementioned objects. Angular size equivalent to quarter held at arm’s length. No one else in my immediate vicinity appeared to have noticed it. Highly visible fragmentation, with a short tail roughly equal to that of the body size, there was no noise.
Location of viewer during sighting: +28° 25' 5.35", -81° 34' 49.88" (28.418152, -81.580522) (Locations calculated via Google maps)
A few minutes after apparent sunset on 11/7/2012 5:20-5:40 I saw an object begin glowing brightly about 6-7 degrees above the horizon, at this point 3 degrees above the sun (was obscured by tree line) the object was about the same angular size as Venus, maybe a little larger. It was visible over the course of a minute, I first noticed it as a soft glowing object the same shade as the sun during sunset, but it got continuously brighter until I was able to see white light in the center, it quickly faded until it was just at the edge of my vision and then brightened up again.
During the phase where it brightened back up I noticed an identical object five degrees north of it, and 10 degrees above the horizon. This one had a much shorter life cycle of about 20-30 seconds and did not re-ignite like the first object. So transfixed was I on the second object that I did not notice what happened to the first.
After about two minutes of staring at the horizon trying to detect another I noticed a third object about 25 degrees directly above where the sun set, this one may have been in existence longer but I only saw it for about 5-10 seconds, which was enough time to point it out to a passerby to verify that my eyes were not playing tricks on me. She only noticed the contrail of a plane 10 degrees below object.
All three were exceptionally bright objects that did not move during the times they were visible (verified constantly with reference points on the Horizon), all presented with an orange glow similar to the surrounding sky during sunset, but they all at their peak brightness had a visible bright white core.
What I have concluded/believe:
1. They were not one object. Two were visible at the same time.
2. It is not an airplane, or airplanes. Angular size of light source, brightness and duration of visibility especially in close proximity to the sun would not exist without apparent motion.
3. They were not a satellite, positioning is too erratic, and they did not move. AND in order to produce a similar orange glow, light would have been reflected from the sun, but the objects were too close to the sun. The only man-made objects to pass through area between sun and earth during time specified were ISS (ZARYA), Cosmos 2278, Atlas Centaur R/B and Okean-3. None of which, according to computer program Stellarium 0.11.3, were in proper position or at proper times to be the objects spotted.
My mind first jumped to supernova, and second to aliens. Both seem equally improbable.
Location of viewer during sighting: +28° 25' 6.99", -81° 34' 49.53" (28.418608, -81.580426) In addition to these viewings at 7:52 a fireball/shooting star fell in the exact same region of the sky as the position of the aforementioned objects. Angular size equivalent to quarter held at arm’s length. No one else in my immediate vicinity appeared to have noticed it. Highly visible fragmentation, with a short tail roughly equal to that of the body size, there was no noise.
Location of viewer during sighting: +28° 25' 5.35", -81° 34' 49.88" (28.418152, -81.580522) (Locations calculated via Google maps)
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Bay Lake
USA
4 minutes
4 minutes
light
FL
Occurred : 11/7/2012 17:30 (Entered as : 11/07/12 17:30) Reported: 11/7/2012 8:44:14 PM 20:44 Posted: 11/19/2012 Location: Bay Lake, FL Shape: Light Duration: 4 minutes Characteristics: The object changed color
Three brightly glowing objects above sun during sunset + Fireball 2 hours later.