SUF-CSE-015-240708

Title: Bourton Light
Date: 24/07/08
Time: 22:30
Location: Bourton, Wiltshire
Duration: 30 mins
Size (Compared to full moon): Small
Behavior: Drifting in ‘random’ way around same area of sky
Colour: White
Odour: None
Noise: None
Animal Behaviour: None
No of Witnesses: 3+

Description:
At 10.30 pm this evening I wentout into my garden and noticed a very bright object in the sky. It was cylindrical in shape, wider at the bottom and narrowing to almost a point at the top. It seemed to have several distinct lights on it and was orientated with the widest bit at the bottom and narrowest at the top, like a dragonfly or a cigar stood on one end. It appeared to be reasonably high in the sky (light aircraft flying height ) and was stationary south of Bourton towards Malborough. My guess would be it would be roughly over the M4. It seemed to be a large object but I didn't have a reference point to judge by. It seemed to drift in a random way but always around the same spot - almost as though it was hovering. I thought it might be the Mir space station but the size and level in the sky seemed to be way off. There was no discernable noise or odour.
After 10 minutes I came in to get my camera. When I couldn't find it I went back outside and it was still there. By this time, I could hear other people in their gardens shouting "look at that thing". I watched it for another 10 minutes or so and then there appeared to be several aircraft in the sky, flying towards the object. I was pleased because I realised I would be able to get a size reference for the object so I watched one aircraft fly really close - at which point it suddenly disappeared as though someone had turned the lights out. I was completely flabbergasted as I had watched it for nearly half an hour by that point and there had been no change in luminosity. It has not reappeared.

Investigation:
Again, with all stationary objects a quick star & planet check is in order. This time the culprit could be Jupiter. I asked the witness to check the following night to see if the object was still there. I have heard nothing back.