Light over State College, PA
A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.
The report, as filed
I feel foolish for not submitting this sighting the day I had witnessed it. But seeing the recent reports in the northeast about three lights travelling so close together around the time of my sighting, I feel compelled to submit a report of what I saw. I don't remember the exact date, but it was around the last week of July, perhaps July 26th. However, I do know that it was between 5:30 and 5:40 A.M., because this is the time that I go to work. Details: As I was headed northeast on I-99, I noticed three bright lights in the northern sky, only several degrees above the horizon. These lights remained very close to one another in a vertical formation, never separating more than about one degree from the other. The movement of the formation was very slight, but there was definitely movement. The lights were bright white, almost silvery. I could not distinguish a tail or anything of the sort. As an amateur astronomer, I know for a fact that they were not planets because they were well north of the ecliptic. Conditions: Seeing conditions on this morning were clear. During this time frame, it had been very hot in my area, with highs from the upper 80's to the mid 90's, and lows from the mid to upper 60's. If you could mark my position on Shiloh Road, looking toward the northeast drawing a straight line, the line would pass over Pleasant Gap, State Game Lands 295, and Williamsport. There was no way for me to guess the distance of the formation. Hopefully, someone saw the same thing and can corroborate this sighting. If you did see something that closely matches the details of my sighting, don't be shy and *don't be afraid* - REPORT IT. Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate. PD
Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #129049). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2016-07-23 → 2016-08-09
From the same sky
Related entries
August 16, 2023 · 2:20 AM · CIRCLE
State College, PA
I was looking out my bedroom window at the rear of our home. My original goal was to see if neighbors were still outside so I could let my dog out. The brightness of the object caught my eye. I grabbed my phone with the intent of enlarging the object but I decided to record three videos. In the video the object can be seen as what I say is either a jelly fish type motion or that of a beating heart, an in and out motion. This motion is not from myself or my camera the object was really moving this way. I lay down in bed after watching it for about 15-20 min. I got up about 1/2 hour after lying down, looked out the window again and the object was gone. Please forgive my language in the video. I guess you could say I was shocked. 40.79241° N, 77.83972° W Coordinates
October 27, 2022 · 11:46 AM · OTHER
State College, PA
Key notes: • Sighting occurred at 11:46 AM, EST and lasted for approximately 30 seconds. • For about 20 minutes, there was an E-2 Hawkeye in flying relatively low over the area which is peculiar because this area rarely sees military aircraft with the exception of C-130's, Blackhawks, Chinooks and the occasional Apache. • Object was spotted almost immediately after the Hawkeye left the area. • Object resembled a dot or orb, rather high and very bright white, moving very fast from the east-northeast to the west-southwest. I would estimate that the size of the object would be similar to holding the pinhead of a needle out at arms length. • Object moved in a smooth straight line before it made a slight arc over Mount Nittany, then continued on in a straight trajectory • Object left no trail, made no sound, emitted no beams, did not change color, etc. The brightness remained consistently bright until it faded from view. I am an Air Force veteran and am familiar with military aircraft, having worked directly with the F-15C for over 3 years. I do not believe that this object was an aircraft reflecting sunlight because it maintained the same brightness throughout the sighting and it was moving faster than any aircraft I know. Nor do I believe it was a drone due to the significant speed. Nor do I think it was something like milkweed floating through the air because they milkweed simply doesn't move that fast. Trying to take a picture of the object would have been useless because it would my camera would not have been able to resolve the image. Besides, it was simply moving too fast to capture. If anyone in the State College area saw something similar to what I saw on October 27th, 2022 around 11:46, PLEASE report it. Through experience, I know that the more witnesses there are to a sighting the more credible it is. If contacted by NUFORC, please contact me by email only.
July 13, 2021 · 9:52 PM · UNKNOWN
State College, PA
The craft was hovering above the house down the street from mine. It was pulsing Green lights that were flashing. It was hovering for a few solid minutes when all of the sudden it took off at extreme speed. I am an aircraft enthusiast and this is nothing live I have every seen before. The speed was incredible and how the craft was able to shoot straight up still amazes me. I have photos and a short video. It is not super clear but was the best I could do before the craft took off.
February 27, 2018 · 9:30 PM · TRIANGLE
State College, PA
During stargazing, we noticed a large, triangular shaped “transparency” moving across the sky--approximately southwest to northwest. It moved rather quickly for its size (about the time it would take to watch an airplane go across the sky). The size was that of about 15-20 airplanes (as seen from the ground) clustered into a triangle. The shape moved very steadily without zigzagging or changing speeds. The shape was very obvious and visible, yet the object looked essentially transparent. Truly the oddest thing I’ve ever seen.
July 4, 2016 · 9:15 PM · UNKNOWN
State College, PA
During 4th of July Fireworks, a light approached the fireworks from the west. It was raining lightly at the time and the clouds were low. At first I thought it was a plane coming in to land at the State College Airport. When the light reached a point about 1/4 mile north of the fireworks (I can only guess the altitude - probably about 1500 feet) the light stopped in the sky and stayed fixed for a few minutes. I looked down for a couple seconds and when I looked back up it was gone. The light was bright enough that it obscured the shape of the craft. There were no blinking lights as you would expect from an airplane or helicopter. My position was about 1/3 mile east of the hovering position. When it was approaching, it was heading directly towards me.
January 5, 2016 · 9:30 PM · FORMATION
State College, PA
Relatively clear night with a few thin clouds, can see many stars and a couple airplanes. Was looking northwest when I first noticed the lights (didn't see them appear). They moved toward the south and I was able to see them clearly, until I lost them behind some trees and a building. At that point I was looking a little south of due west. They were brighter than the stars but not as bright/crisp as airplane lights. Long line of white lights moving south, parallel to and about 30 degrees above the horizon. Direction of motion appeared to be along the axis of the line. Very straight line, very steady lights. None moved relative to one another, and all were evenly spaced. Did not appear to be getting closer or farther away--the line maintained a steady length. Did not appear to accelerate. Not sure how to describe scale, but from my perspective the line appeared to be about the length from Orion's belt to his front foot. (The lights didn't cross Orion, but it was an easy reference.)