Expert: Philip Stahl - 2/15/2011

Question
Last night I was out side and heard what sounded like a jet to my dad and when I looked I saw a bright red light flying in the sky with three plains following behind it and when I talked to some kids at school the next day some of them said some thing shook there house about the same time I saw the light. It happened around 8:00. I was just wondering if you know what it was.

Answer
Hello,

It's impossible to say definitively what it was (though at first pass, it sounds like some kind of aircraft) without further information.

Below is a form I usually provide to report the details of flying unknowns. If you can fill it out then I might be able to be more specific.
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Revised Form: Unknown Optical-Atmospheric Phenomena


1.   Provide the date and time (if possible GMT, but otherwise local time) of your observation:  




2.   Give the latitude and longitude of your location:


Lat. =                         Long.  =      


3.   Give the estimated duration of the observation in minutes:


4.   Give the duration of any pauses in the motion and, if possible, when these occurred in relation to the initial time of sighting:


5.   Give the initial brightness of object (use magnitude scale by estimating in comparison to known magnitudes of nearby stars if possible, e.g. 1st magnitude, as bright as Antares)

6.  Give the initial size of object when first sighted (use angular measure, arc seconds or degrees, e.g. the full Moon is one-half degree across. The width of your pinky finger at arm’s length ~  1 degree.)



7.Describe all color or size changes and the times they occurred in relation to the initial time (t0)  of sighting :


Color changes:


Time correlation:


Size changes:


Time correlation:

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Example:

Color changes:  Orange to blue


Time correlation: t0 + 2 mins.


Size changes: ½ degree to 1 degree


Time correlation  t0 +  3 ½ mins


8. Draw-sketch the shape, appearance of the object(s) over the time(s) you indicated (if using a computer – scan the drawing then attach with report)




9. Estimate the velocity of the object-phenomenon in angular measure per second. (e.g. 1 degree per second, ½ degree per second etc.)



10. Identify if possible all known astronomical objects  (stars, planets etc.) in the vicinity of your observational interlude:





11.How many other observers saw the phenomenon and to what extent did their observations conform to your own?


12.Describe as carefully as you can any ancillary physical effects that accompanied the visual sighting (e.g. sounds made, electrostatic disturbances, etc.)