2013-03-17 - Portland, OR - Formation

Cluster of bright orange lights floating, jumping around in sky

While driving home last night, around 9:30pm with fairly clear skies I saw about 4 distinct lights floating in the sky. They appeared to be moving together but not connected. They were very bright orange and high up, probably as high as a plane flying at a very low cruising altitude – or a helicopter at a very high flying altitude. I would describe the movement like hot air balloons, but a few would move up or down ( in relation to the others from my perspective.. could have been side to side ) in what seemed to be a controlled pattern. As I drove I thought it was very strange , trying to focus on the road but very distracted by what these lights were. When I came to an intersection where more of the sky was visible I saw so many more, at least 30. Others have reported seeing 50-100 earlier in the evening! I saw them moving west to east. Mostly in a cluster , a few trailed off behind. At this point I was very shocked and pulled over, and got out of my car ! to look. I took a photo and video with my cell phone but since my camera is not that great - the photos are blurred and hard to distinguish. The Extremely bright orange lights were like nothing I have seen. They did not flicker or pulse, just a steady bright light. The 30 (estimate) lights moving kept going slowly – to the west. Some would rotate around others... or move to different parts of the group but as a whole they all seemed to be going west. There were many people looking up at the sky wondering what they were. ( it is a downtown area – many restaurants bars etc... ) One particular bar/grill by my apartment appeared to have all the patrons outside pointing and wondering what the lights were. Eventually, they faded into the distance as they all moved west and disappeared into the night sky.

After doing some research I discovered these lights were around Portland a few hours earlier as well, as reported by many others

(http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/15/experts-uncertain-about-reports-strange-lights-ove/) This was a true phenomenon . In my entire life I have not heard of any atmospheric or natural occurrence like this. (Apparently no one else has either.) A local museum suggested it sounds like it was in the atmosphere – but from my perspective it sure seemed like they were floating / moving at the altitude described above.