Encounter Report – Feel free to debunk. My drawing skills are terrible, and I didn’t have a chance to snap a photo.
Date: February 25, 2025
Location: Northside Indianapolis
I’m really excited to share this! After spending some time observing the usual celestial sights through my Celestron telescope, I was heading back inside. I try to stargaze whenever possible, but living in the city during winter makes it rare. Tonight, the sky was the clearest it’s been in ages. As I was wrapping things up, I noticed a flying object far off in the distance. I live near a hospital, so I’m used to hearing and seeing helicopters constantly. This object, however, was completely silent.
I’m familiar with the planes flying out of IND and their flashing lights, so I rarely get excited by aircraft. While I’m a believer in the unexplained, I’m not desperate for a sighting. I enjoy stargazing as a digital detox and have no intention to post just for entertainment. Given that Reddit can be pretty harsh, I’m excited to share my experience here!
What I saw was incredibly fast, unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. It moved in a straight line, and while it might have been too far away to hear any noise, it felt surreal. I panicked a bit, calling for my husband and letting my cat out since I was so taken aback. My depth perception isn’t great, so I couldn’t estimate how far away it was, but it seemed distant. I just wanted my husband to see it with me because I was in shock.
The object was moving so quickly that there was no way I could capture a photo with my tripod in hand. By the time my husband registered my call, the object had vanished, and my cat had darted away.
I attempted to sketch what I saw—it’s a terrible drawing, but it captures the shape. The object was surrounded by a constant bluish-green light with no blinking. It didn’t resemble a plane or a helicopter and was speeding northeast from the northwest. What could it be? A drone, perhaps? I’m sure you all have plenty of logical explanations, so feel free to share!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like an intense moment, and I can understand why you’re excited. Here are a few thoughts to consider:
Drones: Given their increasing popularity and capabilities, it’s possible that what you saw could have been a drone. Some advanced models can fly quite fast and might not make much noise, especially at a distance.
Aircraft: Even though you said it didn’t look like a plane or helicopter, some smaller aircraft or ultralights can be quite fast, and they sometimes don’t have the same lighting patterns as commercial planes. Plus, their sound can be hard to hear if they’re far enough away.
Atmospheric Phenomena: Sometimes what we see in the sky can be explained by natural phenomena, like weather balloons or even atmospheric reflections of distant lights.
Satellites: Depending on the time and location, a satellite passing overhead could have appeared bright and would move quickly across the sky. They also don’t make noise.
It’s great to see your enthusiasm for stargazing, and sharing experiences like this can often lead to new insights. Whatever it was, it seems like it made quite an impression! Keep looking to the skies, and maybe you’ll catch another sighting—hopefully with a camera at the ready next time!