Disk over Charlotte- Huntersville, NC

The report, as filed

The craft was viewed on an a bright sunny day with a few scattered clouds while in my backyard with my dog. At which time I began hearing and visually tracking (approx. alt. 3000ft) an unknown object directly above my head, that I had no way of explaining to myself. After viewing for 30 seconds, I grabbed my phone and attempted to lock in on the object (approx. alt. 4000-6000 ft.) and .5 miles to the North. However, due to the fact that it was extremely bright I could not see what I was recording (the mirror image was engaged and I was therefore recording my own face) HOWEVER, soon after realizing this, I flipped the image and began recording the sky once again. In that short period (maybe 20 seconds) the object appeared to elevate to a height which was considerably higher than before (it was unknown to me at the time whether or not I captured the object at all, because I could not see what my phone screen was recording). Upon viewing later I luckily captured 11 magical seconds. Other than my own fear, wonder and amazement there are a few additional things you may find interesting. First, during those 11 seconds it is EXTREMELY LIKELY the object would have been located almost directly over McGuire Nuclear Station on Lake Norman. Secondly, on the video you can see the green disc shape, and the beam of light (which begins to track back and forth about 75°). NOTE:This was the only time the beam of light "scanned", while flying over me the beam was pointed due north and stationary. This beam was present for the duration of the objects, "visible flight", meaning it was never "off". In closing, I'd like to add that initially I could not process what I was seeing, and previous to the afternoon of January 16th, I had never witnessed anything in the sky that I could not explain, or explain away. I now join a group of people that say, I KNOW WHAT I SAW. The reality however is that I don't know what I saw, I only know that it appeared, "Not of this Earth". What has been particularly perplexing; and the pieces I have obsessed over everyday since the 16th of January 2023, are both the speed of the craft, and the abrupt beam of light (both visible and very bright) that seems to abruptly stop (meaning the light does not fan out like a cone, nor does it lose any brightness as the distance increases). Its as if the beam of light is contained with in a long tube or glass like cylinder). Again, this is something I can not explain. In closing, I want to apologize for waiting so long to report the sighting (4 weeks today), but due to recent objects in the sky I felt the duty to report it. However, I want to be very clear, confident and unwavering when I say; this was NOT a weather balloon, a drone, or a craft i have seen before. My eyes do not lie. NOTE BELOW: Video begins to capture craft after about 20 seconds. It is located just under the haze of the top cloud under the right "arm" (our right). So viewed with naked eye for 20-30 seconds, turned mirror view at approx 20 seconds, and capturing 11 seconds. Including, the total time I witnessed the object it accelerated and ascended north from a probably 2000ft to a best guess of 15,000 ft. in about 50 seconds.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #174491). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.