Appearance / Description of Object(s)

10 to 15 burning lights (like what you see coming out of the back of a jet) in a big circle. The lights (fire) were about the size of of a nickle held at arms lenght. The entire circle covered about a 100 foot diameter

Size of Object(s)

I would have to say if I stretched out my arms and speard my hands 2 feet apart would be what the size was when we were out of the car

Distance to Object(s) & Altitude

It seemed like it was just feet above us. Maybe 75 to 100 feet.

Description of Area / Surroundings

At busy insection. Stop lights on all 4 corners. Gas station on SW corner. Small plaza mall on NE corner. Cemetery on SE corner. I do not recall what sits on the NW corner. Just a couple blocks from the Rock River

Full Description & Details

It was 1/20/89 and my boyfriend and I were driving from Polo, Illinois to Sterling, Illinois. We were in the front seat with him driving. My son who was 4 at the time was in back seat. We were about 5 miles outside of Polo, driving on what they call the Freeport blacktop road. There is a house there that has a 3rd story lookout. Everytime I go past the place I look and think how I would like to live there. Anyway, as I was looking towards the west waiting to see the house I noticed a bright red light in the sky. It looked like Mars, but about twice the size you would expect Mars to be. I pointed it out, and stated that "I was not an expert, but I thought Mars came out around March, not January!" I kept looking for it as we drove on to Sterling, trying to keep an eye on it between the trees and landscape. Then, when we were about 1 mile from the intersection of Freeport road, and East Lincolnway, the object was much closer to us. At this time it looked like one of those planes that drag behind it a sign. You know, one of those banners that tell you of a grand opening or big sale or whatever. I thought it looked like it was on fire. I was screaming for my boyfriend to stop, and pull over. He just kept driving like nothing was going on!!! He wasn't even looking up at it at this point. He was driving like he was in a trance or something. My son was screaming and crying "Santa Claus", "Santa Claus", "Santa Claus", over and over. I was going nuts! I was screaming!! I wanted to pull overand watch. I thought I was going to be a witness to a fire, or worse, a plane crash!! Anyway, he kept driving and the object was getting closer and closer so I started hitting his arm to get him to pull over. I just couldn't believe him! How could someone be so calm at a time like this! When we reached the corner he did pull into the gas station and we all jumped out. At this time the object was just above us, and then it just vanished! Just like that, it was gone. I looked around. I could not understand why people were not looking up. It was like we were actors in a movie, but were on the wrong set. We got back into our car. We were freaked to say the least. We decided not to describe it until we got home. At that time we both wrote down what we saw. I saw 10 to 15 burning lights (like what you see coming out of the back of a jet) in a big circle. The lights (fire) were about the size of of a nickle held at arms lenght. The entire circle covered about a 100 foot diameter. He saw not only the lights but an object that he says was like a very dark purple color sauser shape. Neither one of us heard any noise coming from object. I could not believe that this did not bring out the Air Force, and why it was not the headlines the next day. Someone had to see it! I have drawn pictures of what I saw and just how big it was. We could not of been the only ones to see this

Can sighting be explained as any conventional man-made or natural object?

NO WAY!!!!

Witness Background

College degree, I just started my own photography business this year.

Views on UFOs, before and after sighting

I don't see how we could be the only planet with life. But I needed proof. Well I got it!!!!!

Other Comments

I will copy the picture I did right after this happened and mail it to you this week

Reported Sighting? 

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