2014-01-01 - Clarksville, TN - Sphere

3 Orange spheres in Clarksville, TN, sky on New Years after midnight.

So the New Year's observation was not unusual. That means I know others saw the event beside us three on that occasion. My neighbors saw it too and since they had a lot of kids on hand, they weren't drinking near as much as us. The neighbors were watching us send up fireworks.

TIME: Shortly after midnight, 1 Jan 2014.

CONDITIONS: Cold, clear sky, moon light. Nominal northerly winds. (We could judge wind by watching the ashes of our fireworks drift.) Oddly enough, kind of quiet.

OBSERVATION: Three orbs, orange in color, moving North by North East, moderately low to the horizon. Distance and height estimates were not possible. Orbs moved in a trail pattern spaced about 20 seconds between object 1 and 2 and about 30 seconds between objects 2 and 3. Object 1 appeared to alter course with a smooth turn to a Northeast heading and object 2 appeared to follow this turn exactly upon reaching the same point. Object three seemed to overshoot the turn and correct its course by turning more to the right (smooth turn) and follow objects 1 and 2. At no time were all three object visible is the same sky. No sound was heard. Orange color and intensity of objects was uniform and did not change.

OBSERVERS: Three retired Soldiers celebrating New Year's with fireworks and firewater. All three are experienced in field conditions and have training and experience in estimating distance at night and ground navigation by stars. All three can tell the difference between a star and a planet. All three can distinguish helicopters from airplanes and turbine engines from reciprocating engines. So we know how to shut up, look and listen and, interpret what we sense.