STRANGE UFO WITNESSED OVER WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

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APRIL 28, 2008


Based on initial suspicions concerning the fireball that passed over Washington State and British Columbia at approximately 2207 hrs. (PDT) on Friday night, 28AP00, Peter Davenport decided to perform at least a cursory examination of the available data.  His hope was to be able to establish whether the event was consistent with a typical meteoritic event, at least in gross terms, or whether it might have exhibited characteristics, which are inconsistent with such an event.

Initial suspicion was aroused by the following aspects of the event:  

1)      Several of the witnesses in the Seattle area reported that the object, and the manner in which it moved across the sky, seemed unusual to them, “not like a meteor”;

2)      One of the witnesses in Aldergrove, B.C., reported that the object appeared to be “below” the cloud layer, which would be inconsistent with most meteoritic events;

3)      It was reported that the Sandia sky-camera (in Woodinville, WA) had not recorded the event, even though the camera was operating normally at the time of the event, and even though the skies at the time were “partially cloudy with large clear spots.”  Given how dramatic the event apparently was, it seemed illogical that the camera would not have recorded the event, had it been a typical meteor or bolide, i.e. at an assumed altitude measured in tens of miles.  ((In a subsequent communication, the operator of the camera indicates that the clouds to the west of the camera’s location were almost solid.  He reports, too, that a second inspection of his tape for the time period of the event, again, revealed nothing.))

4)   None of the witnesses reported a sonic boom, or any audible sound.

Because the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) had been contacted by several witnesses to the event who reside in the Seattle area, Davenport felt that at least a preliminary collection of on-site, eyewitness data could be collected, and analyzed, with a minimum of effort.  Hence, on Wednesday, May 03, he contacted Mr. Robert B. Frost, a retired (40 yrs.) senior engineer (E.E.) from Boeing Military to request his assistance in an investigation.  Mr. Frost consented to participate in the investigation, and he and Davenport met on Thursday, May 04, with two witnesses, from whom they collected sighting data.

A Garmin hand-held GPS unit (Model 44) was used for latitude/longitude measurements.  A Brunton surveyor’s pocket transit (Model 5006LM), mounted on a wooden tripod (brass fittings) was used for azimuth and elevation measurements.  Both instruments provided by Mr. Frost.

Bob Frost, serving as principal investigator in the case, took the readings and read them to Davenport, who recorded them.  Mr. Frost performed calculations on the data and communicated them to Peter Davenport, who prepared a draft of this document.  The draft was submitted to Bob Frost for final proof-reading and any final amendments

SIGHTING DATA:

WITNESS #1:   Female/Homemaker; age:  mid-30’s.  Resides in Ballard area of Seattle, approximately 8 miles north of Seattle Space Needle.

The witness described the object observed as being extremely bright, generally white in color, and somewhat oval in shape, with a distinctly convex dorsal side, and generally flat ventral side.  (She drew an image for the investigators.)  She estimated its (apparent) size to be approximately a major fraction of the width of her thumbnail, held at arm’s length, and viewed with one eye closed.  She stated that the object was moving generally from her right to left, as she faced east. The object passed behind tall conifer trees to the east of her position, which apparently assisted her in estimating the object’s apparent position in the sky (both azimuth and elevation) at the time of her sighting.  The witness indicated that the sky was clear, with no clouds evident.

Witness estimated she observed the object for approximately 2 seconds.  She lost sight of the object as it passed behind trees.

Witness Lat./Long.:  North 47 deg.  41.808 min.   West 122 deg.  23.525 min.

Initial Sighting:       Azimuth:  44 deg. (true)     Elevation:  8 deg. 30 min.

Final Sighting:        Azimuth:  32 deg. (true)     Elevation:  9 deg. 20 min.

WITNESS #2:  Male; age:  early 20’s.  Resides in Northgate area of Seattle, approximately 1-2 miles northeast of Northgate Shopping Center, which is located just east of Interstate-5.  

Witness described the object as being extremely bright, generally white in color, seemingly round in shape, with perhaps a greenish tint to its fringe.  He estimated its (apparent) size as being equal to a major fraction of the width of his thumbnail, held at arm’s length, and viewed with one eye closed.  He stated that the object moved at an extremely high (angular) velocity, passing generally from his right to left, as he faced east.  As was the case with Witness #1, the object passed behind tall conifer trees to the east of Witness #2, providing him with a good reference as to the object’s apparent position (both azimuth and elevation).  Witness #2 emphasized how fast the object was moving across the sky.  He indicated that he had never seen anything move across the sky that fast.

The witness reported that the sky was clear, and no clouds were evident.  Witness estimated he observed the object for 3.5-4.5 seconds.

Witness Lat./Long.:   North 47 deg. 43.205 min.   West 122 deg. 19.021 min.  

Initial Sighting:    Azimuth: 98 deg. 30 min. (true)      Elevation:  35 deg. 40 min.

Final Sighting:     Azimuth: 14 deg. (true)                      Elevation:  13 deg. 10 min.

Note:  The difference in elevation between the two witnesses was not measured, but its is estimated to be not more than 200 feet, and therefore is insignificant.

We may take similar readings from other witnesses in attempt to corroborate the above findings.  We are hoping for more reports.

RESULTS:

1)  Based on the GPS measurements, the distance between the two witnesses was 20,329 feet.

2)  The altitude of the “fireball” was approximately 4,200 feet (AGL).  (Range:  3,000 to 5,000 feet).

3)  The object was traveling at a velocity of between 4,000 and 6,000 feet per second.

4)  Over the range of sighting by the two witnesses, the object was coursing on a heading of approximately 350-360 degrees (true).

5)  The length of the object (horizontal axis) is estimated to be in the vicinity of 70-200 feet. NOTE: The above image is CGI.

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