Strange Light/Object over the Bay Area [pics]

Tonight my sister and I were driving to San Mateo to visit some old friends. As we approached the San Mateo Bridge toll plaza we noticed a strange light above the hills, seeming as if maybe it was out over the ocean. I am guessing the light was somewhere near Half Moon Bay.

The appearance of the light at first looked very similar to a contrail illuminated by the sunset. But what was strange was this light did not seem to move. It seemed to remain the same size/shape and position while we drove over the bridge, until it started to seem a little smaller before being covered by the rising hills.

The idea of that failed sattelite entering our orbit entered my mind, but once again, it wasn't really moving downwards or anything as if it were falling or progressing at least. Then I thought it could possibly be some sort of light phenomenon with the Sun. If it is some sort of light phenomenon it is definitely nothing I have ever seen from many years of seeing sunsets in the Bay Area.

It appears to be moving downward in this sequence of pictures because the Earth was rotating upwards. I watched it the whole time and the light was not moving upward or downwards, it stayed in one position.

I managed to grab a handful of shots with my sister's camera. I really have no clue what it was and I am hoping you guys can took a look at these pics and we can figure it out.












This one is blurry but you can see the strange light right above the toll plaza:

Diplomat, thank you for sharing this one, and thank you for sharing the original pictures. Star and flag for you.

This is the full sequence, bicubic resampled:


The most important thing that i noticed, is that the object shifts its horizontal axis: as if it was falling/ loosing speed (at least apparantly).

That's a very interesting detail, imho.
Great find, we must absolutely know if someone else noticed/photographed it.

[edit on 16/2/2008 by internos]

Originally posted by internos
Great find, we must absolutely know if someone else noticed/photographed it.

[edit on 16/2/2008 by internos]

Wow, nice job with the pics.

I know some of those other people on the bridge must have at least seen it because it was pretty much right in front of our faces for some time.

I just have to ask, are these 100% crops from the 2816x1584 pixel originals? If they are just the resized photos, it'd be nice if you could at least supply one full res crop of the item.

Not sure we'll say anything more than what internos have noted, but still

Originally posted by merka
I just have to ask, are these 100% crops from the 2816x1584 pixel originals? If they are just the resized photos, it'd be nice if you could at least supply one full res crop of the item.

Not sure we'll say anything more than what internos have noted, but still

Ok, I archived the original 2816x1584 pics into a rar file:

www.sendspace.com...

I also have a short video that I took, but my sister's little digital camera doesn't take very good zoomed video, plus the bridge was extremely bumpy as we were driving so you can barely even see the light/object.

Much appreciated

Here's a full res crop for easy viewing:

Edit, added the others too (ignored the more blurry photos):








[edit on 16-2-2008 by merka]

Nice work, Merka

Same work as before:




The variation of the inclination is confirmed by the higher res set of photos, imho.


It's also barely noticeable a difference in the color: but the distribution of the color doesn't make me think to a "tail": i mean, neither the colors nor the shape makes me think to a classic meteor, but of course nothing can be ruled out so far, IMHO: pheraps the lenticular clouds can be ruled out due to the changes of inclination, but i may be wrong.
Since the sighting is very recent, i think that we have good chances to find other witnesses and possibly other pictures.

Its like you were describing a comet. Maybe its one of those "sundogs?"

Looks to me like a dissipating contrail lit from below due to the setting sun, but of course it could be anything else indeed.

Originally posted by reject
Its like you were describing a comet. Maybe its one of those "sundogs?"

I was just looking at lots of pictures of sundogs, and I only found a few that somewhat resemble what I saw. I think this could possibly be a sundog, but if it is, it is a rare looking one. Also I have never seen a sundog in the Bay Area before.

Is it me or does this look like just a cloud illuminated buy the setting sun, giving it its color and brilliance?

I could be wrong.

Anyway,
Thanks for sharing the pics

[edit on 16-2-2008 by IMAdamnALIEN]

I agree with the cloud reflecting the sun, or a contrail of a plane. As far as the angle of the object, this appears the case unless you notice that each image has a slightly different camera angle to it. If it was mounted on a tripod and the horizontal angle of the camera was exact each time, then that would be odd, but the camera angle changes on each image. Also if it is a planes contrail reflection, the plane itself could slowy be decending which would also change the angle of the reflected area.
I have seen very short contrails reflecting in the setting sun that looks very similar to this at times, which is why I brought it up

[edit on 16-2-2008 by ringing]

I agree with the above two posters, I see stuff like that all the time in Colorado.

dont think its a cloud, sky is clear all around that area, although I would believe it to be remnants of a gas trail from a jet and its given that reflection. I have seen similar reflections of this before now, from jet trails.

Jet contrail. If you start looking, you can see a dozen or so of these things every night on the horizon, just around sundown. Unless it does something really freaky like zip back and forth on the horizon faster than any plane. Otherwise, it's just a contrail.

Well, it seems that the majority think that's a contrail. And of course i can't rule it out. Now, it would be interesting to look at some similar photos of contrails, for comparison purposes.

Not so sure the debunkers will have their day on this one. It is without a doubt a very strong possibility of it being an extraterrestrial craft. Enjoy the pictures and be sure to write down everything you can remember about the sighting, the time of day, weather, wind, lots of people out and about, what your impression or gut instinct was. Was it very different looking in person? Did it seem much closer than in the pictures?

Good eye,

The thing that doesn't make sense about it being a contrail is that it didn't really move at all. It was just like this streak of light stuck there in the sky. We had been driving for awhile before, and I was watching many jets with contrails. They all move along the sky, and even if it is coming straight towards you it would still move slowly at least wouldn't it?

In west Yorkshire where i live just as the sun was about too rise yesterday morning i saw the exact same thing.

It seemed to be small at first and then it grew in size.

Worst thing about it all is my camera eats batteries the ones in it were dead and i had none spare.

I have seen some really bizzare cloud's over the past few day's there not contrails just clouds in line's.

They dont move and the sky is crystal clear !

They seem very solid and pretty dark like rain cloud's ???

Whats that all about the sky was totally crystal clear ?

There was also a very odd haze in the not too far distance is was a very low haze that i have never ever seen before and it was yellow in color ?

Wierd hmm.

Regards
Lee








[edit on 17-2-2008 by h3akalee]

Well well, I am wondering what time these pictures were taken? I ran my "experiment" earlier that same day.

www.abovetopsecret.com...'

Not saying it is in relation to that, but coincidences always peak my interest. I did not witness this myself, and if I remember right the area is a bit of a distance from me. Not to mention I live in a rather hilly area, so my horizon is quite bumpy.