2014-05-08 - Ahwatukee, AZ - Sphere

Single Blue Orb sighted over Tempe and Chandler Arizona at Sunset

I live in the foothills of South Mountain in Phoenix the area is known as Ahwatukee.

I live on the south side of South Mountain in a condo complex the area had lots of hiking trails and mountain berms. I hike the trails several times a week mostly in the evening around sunset.

This evening I saw what I classify as a blue orb of some kind. It turned a little red but mostly blue. What was amazing it was broad daylight not even close to darkness the sun had set in the western sky behind the mountains, so I call it twilight before darkness. I hike to a small mountain berm directly behind my complex maybe 200 feet at the top of the berm. The trail starts out east and I reach a ridge line at around 500 feet, then goes north as a switchback to the north east to the back side of the berm. After reaching the ridge line I have line of site view to the North and east. I can see distinctive parts of Tempe, Chandler and Mesa in the distance. I can also see 4 Peaks and Superstition Mountain in the distance 50 miles from those view points. I have live in the valley since 1980 and the area very well and have flown in and out of Sky Harbor many times. This blue orb was at least I estimate to be 5-8 miles off in the distance. I first noticed in my hike when I reached the first ridge line.

As I hiked higher I was able re verify visually where exactly it appeared to be. It was not is some remote part of the valley but right over very residential part of cities. The orb would shoot as high and several hundred feet..with no pattern ..like taking a flash light and just shining on a wall and rolling my wrist as if play with a cat chasing the light on the wall. The orb could shoot strait up and zoom directly back down to the ground as it was playing with the buildings on the ground. It turn red sometimes but mostly stay blue. It would disappear completely for several minutes and re-appear. My hike from the ridge line to next ridge line was to the North and North easterly direction to the next ridge line.

The total time it was viewable was maybe 15 minutes. I witnessed this from approx. 7:20pm to around 7:36pm.

I went on up to the top of the berm and the lighting condition with the sun had changed..darker..the orb was no longer visible at the top. I am curios to know it other people sited this event also.

I listen to George Noory Coast to Coast I have heard other reports to the east toward San Tan Valley recently.

I am a good 20 miles to the west of San Tan Valley area/Queen Creek.