Flash over Watervliet, NY
A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.
The report, as filed
At approximately 0110 in the morning, Tuesday, 5 June, 2018, I had to let the dog out to do his business. Weather was clear, very slight high haze and a couple of random puffy clouds. While waiting for the dog to finish, I observed several passenger aircraft cross the sky from west to east, very normal. I then looked to the south/southwest, approximately 65 degrees above the horizon. Four extremely bright, almost dazzling, pinpoint-like flashes occurred in quick succession. The first 3 flashes were timed about 1 second apart with the last flash happening about 3 seconds after the third. The flashes did not move relative to each other, and were in the exact same location for each flash. I was very taken aback by how bright the flashes were. As there was zero motion between flashes, it could not have been an aircraft, satellite or meteor, and the flashes were located much too high to be a drone or other hobbyist device. I did not observe any smoke or other pyrotechnic residue, not that I would expect any this late at night. I continued to intently observe this particular portion of sky for another 5 minutes, but I did not observe any further activity.
Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #141755). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2018-06-02 → 2018-06-19
From the same sky
Related entries
April 10, 2020 · 9:00 PM · CIRCLE
Watervliet, NY
I was taking my dog out for a walk I thought to myself when I was a kid I loved looking up at the stars threw a telescope and just being fascinated by it all so I decided to look up for awhile and just enjoy the view. What cought my eye was this little dot dimmer then a star moving at a face pace (I kept having to look away so my eye could refocus because it wasn’t so bright). I figured maybe it was a satellite or a military jet super high up till I seen it completely change course of direction( it was going East and went north in a flash) so I brought the dog inside went in my hunting gear and got my binoculars and came back outside thinking I’m crazy and seeing stuff. I set up on the hood of my truck and waited a few minutes and out came another from the same direction going east so I pull my binoculars up to my face and watched. It moved quick I watched it for a few seconds and it disappeared. Then out came another then another same distance apart then disappearing. I watched it happen at least 10 times but they all went straight and just disappeared. Went inside came out around 11 pm and seen one more this time it was headed south coming from the north. I found this sight after googling and noticed somebody from Rochester ny kind of seen the same thing on the 8th so 2 days ago I figured I’d take the time to write this so maybe others will keep a look out and notice we’re not crazy.
February 28, 2019 · 4:24 PM · SPHERE
Watervliet, NY
On 28 Feb 2019, at 1615 Hrs I was outside taking photographs of passing airliners using my Nikon CoolPix P900 (Superzoom) camera. The sky was clear & bright blue with some high-level haze and thin high-altitude clouds. The temperature was about 35 Deg F. At roughly 1624 hrs, I noticed a bright orb-like light or object appear to my right at 75* elevation, moving from right to left. Speed was moderate. As the orb moved, it slowed considerably, almost to a stop, seemed to emit or discharge some type of liquid or mist that dissipated in the atmosphere, continued for another couple of seconds before it abruptly faded from view. The liquid or mist was not a flare or fireball. Before fading, I quickly lifted and pointed my camera without using the viewfinder and took some photos in the general direction of the object. The orb did not leave a contrail like an airplane or make any sound/engine noise. I continued observing the sky and taking pictures of airplanes. Then, around 1700 Hrs, as I was facing due west, I noticed the same (or similar looking) glowing orb again suddenly appear in my line of vision, 30* elevation, moving straight down before fading away. There was no contrail or noise. I again quickly raised my camera and took some shots as it was moving downward, thinking I might catch something. Later, while reviewing my pictures, I discovered that I had managed to capture a total of four photos showing what seem to be the objects, two from the first sighting, and two from the second. I am an Army vet, and I am quite familiar aircraft recognition. I have also been observing aircraft with my photography for about a year now. I am quite familiar with how airliners, drones, helicopters, birds, stars, planets, meteors and errant mylar balloons look, in life and in my photos. I can say, with all the sincerity that I have, that the objects I observed were none of these. I do not know what they were, but they were highly unusual. Total observation time of both objects was approximately 15 seconds total.
June 9, 2018 · 1:11 AM · LIGHT
Watervliet, NY
Very early yesterday morning, I was in my back yard, at approximately 0110 Hrs. doing some stargazing. I was looking generally to the north, with large trees to the extreme left and right of my field of view, and a two-story neighbor's house in the center. I had observed several high flying passenger aircraft (typical light/strobe pattern), satellites and a meteor or two. Suddenly, from behind the left hand bunch of trees, travelling from left to right, at a viewed angle to just clear the top edge of the neighbor's roof, appeared a VERY bright white (PULSING, not flashing) light. The pulse pattern was: (gradual increase, hold a second or so, gradual decrease)(3 second pause)(repeat) The time from minimum to maximum brightness was about 2-3 seconds. Pulsing was not quite regular, but not random either. The color of the light was absolutely one the purist whites I have experienced. I would estimate the distance to be middle distance, as it wasn't at airliner flight level, appearing much lower in altitude and close. I thought maybe it MIGHT be a helicopter, but there was ZERO noise. We have an Army National Guard base nearby, and UH60s overfly regularly, as well as the local Lifeflight. They make a racket all the time, and I am quite familiar with helicopter noise. During this event, however, there was NO SOUND/DEAD QUIET. In addition, there were ZERO other strobes, anti-collision or flashing lights observable. The light was about the size of a nickel held at arm's length, gliding along at a slightly sedate pace. The path was a straight line path from left to right, until is disappeared behind the right hand set of trees. It FAILED to appear where I estimated it should based on course and speed. I quickly moved in my yard to see if I could re-locate it, but no luck. Now, during the last few seconds before it disappeared behind the trees, I was able to observe the object with my binoculars. What appeared in my view was a neon blue...Aura? Haze?, and within this haze was a tumbling, jet-black multi-faceted rectangular-ish shape. Confused by the blue light, I pulled my binocs away, and that is when the object disappeared behind the trees. I can honestly say this is one of the most unusual & unnerving things I have ever seen.
November 10, 2016 · 11:30 PM · LIGHT
Watervliet, NY
I was driving home from my friends house and I turned down first street and as I was going down the street I saw 3 bright yellow lights in the sky going toward each other and then away from each other. Then I saw a fourth one closer to me that heading in my direction, I went to go get closer to it and I lost it.
August 15, 2013 · 5:00 PM · CIRCLE
Watervliet, NY
Silvery, shiny orb hovered above for 20 minutes.