Two formations of bright objects (13 in total) flying from East to West over the Auburn Valley, in WA
At approximately 18:50 in the night sky above my home, moving from East to West appeared a formation of 3 bright objects moving at a steady speed across the sky.
I ran inside and upstairs in order to view this formation above the valley from a West-facing window in my home. The formation was clearly visible and still moving West at a steady speed.
Suddenly, from the East appeared a huge formation of 10 additional bright objects heading in the same Westerly direction at the same speed. These were in a distinct formation, and I was able to photograph this second formation with my iPhone as well as take a short video.
The lead object was out in front of the second formation by a considerable distance. There were 8 bright objects in a pattern. The photo I took shows that this could also potentially be 2 formations: One formation of 4 objects in a backwards āCā formation, and a second formation in a distinct triangle formation.
Under this single cluster of 8 objects was the 10th object which was slightly brighter and moving in the same direction and speed as all of the other objects.
Both the first and second formation vanished into the distance to the West. Both formation never changed speed, shape, or direction at anytime. It was a very deliberate path and speed.
I have been a life-long amateur astronomer and know that these were not meteors, fireballs, or bolides based on my observations. I am also familiar with what a satellite looks like as it breaks apart re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, and this looked nothing like this. These were brighter than the visible objects in the night sky with a brightness between Jupiter and Venus on a clear night.
According to the NWS data for last night, the wind speeds in the area were averaging 9.6 miles per hour, and the wind direction was East...therefore, it was in the opposite direction these objects were flying.
((NUFORC Note: We spoke at length via telephone with the witness, and we found him to be a quite capable, and serious-minded person. We suspect that he is an exceptionally reliable, and capable, observer. PD))
At approximately 18:50 in the night sky above my home, moving from East to West appeared a formation of 3 bright objects moving at a steady speed across the sky.
I ran inside and upstairs in order to view this formation above the valley from a West-facing window in my home. The formation was clearly visible and still moving West at a steady speed.
Suddenly, from the East appeared a huge formation of 10 additional bright objects heading in the same Westerly direction at the same speed. These were in a distinct formation, and I was able to photograph this second formation with my iPhone as well as take a short video.
The lead object was out in front of the second formation by a considerable distance. There were 8 bright objects in a pattern. The photo I took shows that this could also potentially be 2 formations: One formation of 4 objects in a backwards āCā formation, and a second formation in a distinct triangle formation.
Under this single cluster of 8 objects was the 10th object which was slightly brighter and moving in the same direction and speed as all of the other objects.
Both the first and second formation vanished into the distance to the West. Both formation never changed speed, shape, or direction at anytime. It was a very deliberate path and speed.
I have been a life-long amateur astronomer and know that these were not meteors, fireballs, or bolides based on my observations. I am also familiar with what a satellite looks like as it breaks apart re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, and this looked nothing like this. These were brighter than the visible objects in the night sky with a brightness between Jupiter and Venus on a clear night.
According to the NWS data for last night, the wind speeds in the area were averaging 9.6 miles per hour, and the wind direction was East...therefore, it was in the opposite direction these objects were flying.
((NUFORC Note: We spoke at length via telephone with the witness, and we found him to be a quite capable, and serious-minded person. We suspect that he is an exceptionally reliable, and capable, observer. PD))
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Auburn
USA
~5 minutes
~5 minutes
47.30
-122.18
formation
WA
Occurred : 2/23/2016 18:55 (Entered as : 02/23/16 18:55) Reported: 2/24/2016 9:46:17 AM 09:46 Posted: 2/26/2016 Location: Auburn, WA Shape: Formation Duration: ~5 minutes
Two formations of bright objects (13 in total) flying from East to West over the Auburn Valley, in WA.