SIGHTING: CASCADE, MONTANA (UNITED STATES)

Witness Testimony

"While on shift I noticed what I first mistook as a planet or bright star, orange in color. The object was appx. 20 degrees off horizon, WSW of my location. Minimal, patchy clouds in upper atmosphere, otherwise clear. Temperature in the mid 60's, humidity in the low 30%.While watching the object through my patrol vehicle windshield I noticed it dimming and assumed it was indeed a planet/star being hidden by a cloud. I then noted the clouds and their height in relation to the object and realized it appeared below the clouds. I then examined the object through my binoculars and confirmed it was below the clouds.The object was orange and shaped like a "torpedo" type light bulb with a vertical orientation. The base was bright orange and the canopy was a muted orange glow. My first thought was a hot air balloon so I stepped out of the vehicle for an unobstructed view. As I watched the object grew smaller and lost altitued in relation to the horizon, indicating it was moving away rapidly in a WSW direction and still under any clouds in the area. It continued its course until it was far enough away that I lost sight of it, about 10 degrees above the horizon.Factors surrounding incident:Ancohol - noDrugs - noPhotographs or video - unfortunately, noPrevious sightings by yours truly - one, over thirty years agoOccupation of yours truly - Deputy SheriffWitnesses - yes (see following)As I typed this my 13 year old daughter informed me she and her friends also saw the object. She thought it was an "orange hotair balloon" but couldn't be sure as it was "far away".Nice to know I am not losing my marbles.Hmmmmmm....."