2 Rows Of Lights In Staggered Formation

Date: August 13, 1963

Location: La Canada, CA

I was 10 or 11 at the time.

I was already interested in observing the sky with my love of weather, and had recently become interested in the night sky too when I was able to see the Echo communications satellite one evening.

I also enjoyed taking opportunities to look for shooting stars.

So on this particular night, I don't know the exact date, just summer, I asked my parents if I could sleep outside on the grass.

So when it was time to go to bed I took my sleeping bag and laid out on the lawn.

The night was dark and clear, no Moon, no wind.

I had been out there for some time laying on my back with legs pointing North looking straight up when something caught my eye.

Coming from the East at about 60° I saw a formation of lights.

There were about 8 total, in 2 rows, evenly staggered, so if you drew a line between them it would make a zigzag.

The rows were traveling perpendicular to the direction of movement.

The lights were white and looked like bright stars/planets.

Not as bright as Jupiter or Venus or Sirius, but maybe Vega or Arcturus?

The dimension of the formation I would estimate this way.

If you took Orion and cut it in half lengthwise, it would fit in there, Ok, so this formation of lights moved across my field of vision from East to West, just a little North of my location, at a high rate of speed where it only took an estimated 7 seconds to travel the 90° I had them in sight.

I don't know how high they were, there was no noise.

I didn't have the impression that it was one solid object, as it didn't seem to block out stars as it was passing.

I wasn't dreaming, it was real.

But even as young as I was, I knew this wasn't normal.

It scared me to the point that I immediately picked up my sleeping bag and went back in the house to my bed.

I don't think I ever told anyone about it, and eventually forgot about it, but recently with the government reports being released I remembered my experience.

I can still recall the whole thing like it happened yesterday and still get chills every time I visualize it.