Date: May 20, 2009
Exact Time: 2212 hrs. (10:12 p.m.)
Location: Breckenridge, TX.
I was just stepping outside to set up my reflecting telescope (Meade digital
electronic), when I noticed a commercial jetliner to my south, heading west
at cruising altitude.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared 10 to 12 degrees
above the southern horizon, heading west below the passenger jet. I saw the
object for about 2 seconds, and then it was gone, having traveled
approximately 45 degrees Southeast - Southwest.
It could have traveled
farther but my vision was partially block by an outbuilding when I first
observed it.
The strangest thing about the sighting was that during the time I observed
the object, it changed from red, to green, to white. When it turned white, it
seemed to expand and then just disappeared like turning off a light switch.
From my vantage point, the unknown object was somewhat larger than a grain
of rice at arm's length but very bright, as if it radiated a constant light
(did not blink, flash or strobe).
I've witnessed hundreds, if not thousands, of meteors but have never seen one
with such a low, straight trajectory, nor one that changed colors like that.
It is possible I suppose, that if it were a meteor the color changes could
be due to the Earth's atmosphere burning of layers of iron, copper, then
"dirty ice", however I have never personally seen one like that.
There was
nothing being ejected and there was no tail on the object. It left no
trail.
Note of possible interest: the object appeared to be over, or near the
county airport (4 miles SSW of my location), which has recently been quite
active and hosts an aviation museum.
The unidentified flying object could
have been closer, or farther away but I had no sure way to gauge the
distance.
The sighting happened so quickly, that I did not have time to observe the
object in greater detail, nor take a photo. It is possible that someone in
the jet, or someone traveling North/South on Hwy 183 also witnessed the
brightly lit object before it disappeared.
I have included a drawing, in an attempt to show what I witnessed.
This report has been entered on my blog.
Thank you for your time,
SW
