2013-10-25 - Baltimore, MD - Formation

Baltimore MD BWI a formation of more than 20 orange lights strung across the eastern horizon at a elevation of 35 degrees

From an overpass (Long Gate Pky) on Route 100 looking East in the direction of BWI Airport approximately 35 degrees above the horizon and covering approximately 10% of the visible sky was a formation of orange points of light in a snaking arrangement beginning with a close cluster of around 10 lights low toward the horizon at the northern end then rising, falling and rising again in a curving string of lights ending with a dispersed group of 4 lights. The formation hung suspended in the air. I could not tell if the lights were moving away to the northeast, or fading from view. I drove to a safer vantage point at a church parking lot on Rt 103 but fewer lights were visible and they were gone from view within another two minutes. The last of the lights were those at the extreme right side of the formation, the lights to the east. At first glance I thought I was looking a fireworks, but the formation covered to large an area and did not fall through the ! sky or move the way fireworks would and they remained visible for minutes not seconds the way fireworks would. Best guess would be some sort of flares, but very unusual. Also way too many lights to be simple air traffic. I've lived here for the past 22 years and this was not air traffic. Some such traffic was visible in the sky and the lights from those craft was much whiter.