2014-01-02 - Tucson, AZ - Circle

Red and orange orb over the foothills in Tucson, Arizona.

My family (2 adults, 2 small children) were driving in the Catalina foothills north of Tucson, Arizona, and I (the passenger) observed what I thought was a small campfire on the mountainside.

We drove up the road to get a better look and so that I could report it to the sheriff's office, but as we approached it became clear that the fire was actually a large orb of red and orange light.

When we were as close as we could be at the top of the road, the object lifted off the mountainside and flew very quickly over our car, but it was nowhere to be seen when I stepped out to see where it went.

Spooked, we went back down a side street to turn around and leave. As we got back to the main road though, the red and orange orb was back hovering over the mountainside again where it "blinked" off and back on occasionally. It appeared fairly close but made no sound at all.

This went on for about ten minutes before we drove away not wanting to scare the kids who were already a little shaken by it.