2016-12-11 - Helena, MT - Sphere

bright orange/reddish circular light over Helena, Montana.

Wondering if anyone saw light in sky above Helena Montana on Sunday Dec. 11th 2016 approximately 5:45 pm? Walked outside to get some wood for stove and a bright light red or orange in color moving north over Mount Helena from the south, speed was slow like a helicopter but no noise, maybe about 1000ft in altitude. My neighbor was outside so I told him to look also and neither of us knew what it was.

I went inside and grabbed my binoculars and it appeared to be bright orange on the bottom, very bright through my binoculars with no flashing lights, just solid bright orange bottom. It began to move west then came back to the east, not circling but more in straight line. It seemed to hover in place for a brief period then moved east while gaining altitude. It seemed to climb at a very steep rate, but with not so much horizontal movement. Eventually it climbed altitude out of sight.

There are many national guard helicopters that fly over this area all the time and I am used to seeing them and understand the difference. It was not an airplane, as planes cannot go west then east on which seems to be almost identical course. A plane would have to circle, also small planes could not climb as steep as this seemed to do.

It was in the sky for around 5 minutes. It moved almost like you would expect a drone to move, but was much bigger.