What was it??

[mo_reen]

It was Friday, August 4th. I was in Allegany State Park in SW New York State. It was a beautiful and extremely clear sky. There were 5 of us looking up at the sky and looking for shooting stars. We were there for some time when my friend asked if we saw what she saw, and all 5 of us did. It was 3 lights (that looked like stars and if they were standing still, you would never have been able to discern them from them) that were in a triangular pattern and all moving at the same speed and in the same direction. Not very fast from where we were standing. It took about 3-4 minutes for it to disappear into the night horizon. I know they were separate entities because they would waiver from position every so often. Then, a 4th light joined the 3 for a short distance and then simply faded away. These were absolutely NOT meteors and I thought of satelites but all traveling in the same pattern like that? I really would like some input. Much appreciated!

 

[dragon04]

What time was it? At what altitude do you think they were flying? When the 4th one joined was it a diamond pattern? <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[mo_reen]

It was Friday, August 4th. I was in Allegany State Park in SW New York State. It was a beautiful and extremely clear sky. There were 5 of us looking up at the sky and looking for shooting stars. We were there for some time when my friend asked if we saw what she saw, and all 5 of us did. It was 3 lights (that looked like stars and if they were standing still, you would never have been able to discern them from them) that were in a triangular pattern and all moving at the same speed and in the same direction. Not very fast from where we were standing. It took about 3-4 minutes for it to disappear into the night horizon. I know they were separate entities because they would waiver from position every so often. Then, a 4th light joined the 3 for a short distance and then simply faded away. These were absolutely NOT meteors and I thought of satelites but all traveling in the same pattern and speed like that? The time was approximately 2:00 AM (EST) and they were traveling SE (to my best approximation). I really would like some input. Much appreciated

 

[mo_reen]

It was approximately 2:00 AM EST and I think they were traveling SW. When the 4th joined, it was more of a rectangular pattern but it was irregular and for a short time. I could not estimate an altitude only that they were SO far away, they looked like white dots with no obvious blinking or other color

 

[dragon04]

First thing that comes to mind would be a flight of military aircraft.<br /><br />The 4th one grouping up might indicate a KC-130 tanker refuelling B-52 (or maybe B-2)bombers? <br /><br />If they were headed SW, that would be in the general direction of more than one SAC bomber base. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[mo_reen]

Thank you Dragon. We really did figure it to be Military but still something that none of us have ever seen. Much appreciated!

 

[dragon04]

Not a problem, and just a guess. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[qso1]

Probably no way to ever know for sure what it was but based on your description, I'd say Military aircraft flying in formation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

It was likely a group of 3 satellites that fly in that formation, called NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillence System).<br /><br />See this.<br /> link <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

It was the NOSS satellites.<br />See this link:<br /> link <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[red67]

I've seen those same lights before , but in the northern night sky in Northern Oklahoma. but it was like 6 lights in all, moving east. Another wierd light I've seen is one so far up you can barley see it, but as you watch them...they will actually stop and turn another way...pretty strange for an aircraft to do way, way up in the night sky...Someone explain those to me.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Red67,<br />I had an interesting experience the other night.<br />I am an experienced sky observer, but just to let you know anyone can be fooled....<br />I was out looking at the sky since it was just clearing up. In the west I saw a bright light that appeared to be moving toward the east. I assumed it was a satellite, so went inside for my binocs, and when I came out it appeared to slow, then begin moving to the south.<br />As it turned out, it was the star Arcturus. Without too many other bright stars nearby, that's what I thought it was doing, but once I got oriented, I could easily determine that it was that star, at a fixed point in the sky. So even someone that has hundreds of hours watching the whole sky (that's what meteor observing is) can be fooled for a short time.<br />For people who don't watch the sky much, it's easy to see things that can fool you.<br />It's harder for me, but it still happens <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>