A North Phoenix, AZ, witness reports watching "three dimly lit orange lights" that appeared to be part of one object about 11:25 p.m. on June 16, 2011, according to testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database.
The witness used a pair of 8x binoculars to get a better look and discovered that the "object" appeared to be an "elongated oval."
"I re-focused and while shifting the focus, the lights looked as if there was a haze or solid craft around the lights," the witness stated. "There was darker area surrounding the three round lights. With all three lights in a horizontal position they looked to be on an elongated oval."
As the object moved away, it seemed to shift to a vertical position.
"As the object headed NNE from its point of first sighting, it seemed to shift so that the lights were now vertically aligned. When it appeared vertically in the sky the lights had more of a brighter white quality than they had when they were in a horizontal position. As the object traveled further towards the horizon it shifted back to a more horizontal position and the lights were again more of a dim orange glow. I lost sight of the object at about 10 degrees above the horizon due to light pollution. This object looked very large in comparing it with my experience of viewing many planes with my binoculars."
No images or videos were included with the MUFON report, which was filed on June 17, 2011. The above quotes were edited for clarity.
We recently covered another Arizona story: Series of 'sequential lights' reported near Congress, Arizona.
Arizona is a current UFO ALERT 5 rating, with a low number of UFO sightings nationally. Arizona had 11 reports in May 2011 - and remains on our Watch List - while California had 55 UFO reports - the highest reporting state in the nation.
You can read more details about other recently reported cases at the UFO Examiner home page. The most up-to-date UFO information can be heard at web radio show UFO Traffic Report every Wednesday, 9 - 10:30 p.m. EST, which includes a UFO Witness Testimony Program segment, and an update of the UFO ALERT national rating system. Past shows are available at the Archive page.
The following is the unedited and as yet uninvestigated report filed with MUFON. Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or manmade. If Arizona MUFON State Director Jimm Mann investigates and reports back on this case, I will release an update. Please report UFO activity to MUFON.com.
AZ, June 16, 2011 - Three dim orange lights in a line. MUFON Case # 29596.
As seen from North Phoenix at about 11:25 pm on June 16, 2011. I was sitting out back watching the sky for satellites and shooting stars. I routinely sky watch before going to sleep because it helps me clear my mind. I was facing north. I was looking in the direction of Cygnus. I had seen two fairly bright satellites traveling from the north to the south over the last half an hour that I was stargazing.
I had finished my last cigarette and was taking a couple more moments to take a final look for anything in the sky. Below the constellation Cygnus but not as low as Lacerta, I saw movement.
At first I thought it was a dim satellite but after about 1 second it looked more like a dim shooting star with a short trail. I almost always have my 8x binoculars with me. So, I looked at the object with the binoculars and was shocked to see it was clearly three dimly lit orangish lights.
The lights looked slightly out of focus, as my binoculars were focused for seeing the stars. I re-focused and while shifting the focus, the lights looked as if there was a haze or solid craft around the lights. There was darker area surrounding the three round lights. With all three lights in a horizontal position they looked to be on an elongated oval.
When I first viewed the object with my binoculars the lights looked larger than the bright star in Lyra and were of a dim or translucent luminosity. All three lights were first seen horizontal and spaced evenly apart and very close together. I perceived the three lights to be part of one object.
I am familiar with what planes of different sizes look like from many different angles. I have seen meteors of many sorts as well as large birds at night and balloons of many types. This object had NO FAA required lighting at all and was traveling faster than any planes I have seen above my city. It was not traveling at such a great speed as to be shocking but definitely faster than an average jet.
As the object headed NNE from it's point of first sighting it seemed to shift so that the lights were now vertically aligned. When it appeared vertically in the sky the lights had more of a brighter white quality than they had when they were in a horizontal position. As the object traveled further towards the horizon it shifted back to a more horizontal position and the lights were again more of a dim orange glow. I lost sight of the object at about 10 degrees above the horizon due to light pollution. This object looked very large in comparing it with my experience of viewing many planes with my binoculars.
Comments