“A glowing puff of smoke during the pre-dawn hours over Western KY. In the ESE sky has amateur astronomer baffled as to its origin...! “

Not unlike most June mornings I awoke anticipating clear skies but, particularly this morning I was compelled by Mars and its nearing opposition. However it was not the spectacular views of Mars that would captivate my attention this morning, but a perplexing glow of light that pre-empted my target study.

What appeared as a glowing puff of smoke in the sky at 08:20 GMT over the pre-dawn Western Ky. skies was striking. The peculiarity of the sighting was breathtakingly brilliant says amateur backyard astronomer Mark McClure who says it was most likely a meteor or fireball hitting the upper atmosphere. However, the occurrence resembled nothing of the sort! In fact, at first glance, he thought it was a aircraft with its landing lights on, illuminating the clouds, but that wasn’t possible for it was brilliantly clear! The object appeared as a glowing gaseous nebula in the sky, the nucleus 4 times the present diameter of Mars that quickly dissipated to a star-like pinpoint of light, he likened to a fuse burning out. Before disappearing, the light was a pale yellowish color and non-streaking, with a brightly lit core. Comparative to a meteor this event wasn’t as fleeting. The light sustained for 20-30 seconds with no left over trailing as one would expect from a fireball.

Here is the actual observation report made, and its description from Ridgemont Observatory Western Ky.:

AASO Observation Log:
Mars: pre-opposition observing
Addendum: 06.05.03
Target: Glowing Light ESE
Angle: 30 degrees
Time: 08:20 GMT
Color: Pale-Yellowish luminance
Description:

Observed light in the sky, apparent diameter twice that of Mars (present diameter)... with a yellowish gaseous shroud 4 times that of Mars present diameter...quickly dissipated to a star-like pinpoint of light before going out completely...during the 20-30sec. Observation their was a billowing effect, quite like a puff of smoke, and dramatic dimming, Estimated magnitude appeared -0.7 to -1...was not as fleeting as a meteor or fireball...light sustained for aprox. 30sec.before the bright light seemingly burned out.

AASO/ Ridgemont
amateur astronomical space observatory

Whatever it was, it was a captivating experience, and a sight that will intrigue me for sometime. I would be interested to know if anyone else witnessed this same event, or who’ve had similar experiences that could offer more scientific explanation of this phenomenon.

Best regards
Mark McClure

AASO/ Ridgemont

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