SIGHTING: WA 98816, EE.UU.
Witness Testimony
"I was right about at these coordinates 47.9917221, -120.2568194 at about 0125 hours (1:25 am). Not sure if the system here let's me use coordinates on the map search function, so the map might show a little farther up the road than where I actually was. Just left area across from 25 Mile Creek State Park, and was near intersection of Hale Rd. and S. Lakeshore Rd. Stopped a sec on the side of the road and looked up at sky to admire the clear and dark night sky with all the stars exceptionally visible compared to places in West WA near cities. Was looking at this "star" in the direction of Lake Chelan (over the lake in appearance, though I know it wasn't directly over the lake due to the seemingly high altitude). It caught my attention because it was about the size, color (white), and brightness of Venus, if not slightly smaller. Note: I could see Venus in a different part of the sky, so I know it wasn't Venus. Suddenly the "star" rapidly accelerated in a similar speed as a typical meteor (shooting star), then it visibly stoppped/paused. Next it shot off instantly with seemingly little to NO acceleration in a completely different direction (north looking direction). However that time it was not "shooting" in a straight path; instead it moved in an extremely rapid and precise "S" shape (soft angle motion) zigzag that transitioned to a "Z" shape zigzag motion (sharp angles) then very slightly slowed down (almost hard to distinguish speed change though). This was all happening with slight light-streaks following it (kind of like shooting star streaks but different in a way I'm not sure I have words for - Almost more "vibrational" looking if that makes sense). After that last zigzag it seemed to "flare up" a little brighter and then shot in to space in barely a blink of an eye. Keep in mind this happend in about 6-10 seconds. However, I admit it's hard to gauge exactly how long it took place, as I was able to observe all of what I described, yet it happened seemingly very quickly...time is relative in that way, since it was so strange and mesmerizing. I studied astronomy in college, and was part of different astronomy clubs from middle school through college, and frequently watch meteor showers. One of my hobbies is reading and studying astronomy...so I know what various types of satellites look like, weather balloons, metors/meteorites, newer satellites etc. It did not behave in any natural way that I can rationalize, and I sat there trying to rationalize what it might have been, but logically and based on my knowledge, what I saw was a UFO. Maybe not aliens, but definitely not a natural phenomenon, and not like any modern aircraft or satellite (not including any possible government tech, which I have no expertise, professional experience with, or knowledge of). Thought I would share because it was so exciting. I've seen strange things like this all my life, all over the country, but never to this degree. It was always just falling star, stop mid flight abruptly, change directions linearly, and shoot back up into space. Though one time I saw a huge bright green fireball fall from the sky in Jacksonville FL in 2010 (not convinced it was a UFO though, maybe just burning up meteor made up of elements that would make it burn up green in the atmosphere). I digress though.... What I saw this morning was very cool! "
