What Did I Spot Over Lake Michigan?
Date and Time: December 23, 2024, 00:50:52 UTC
Location: Somewhere above Lake Michigan
I have two videos to share: the first one stops right after I show the instrument cluster, while the second is a zoomed-in shot taken a few minutes later.
While flying east over Illinois, I noticed a flashing light at around our 9 o’clock position. Initially, I thought it was another aircraft. As we approached Chicago, the light shifted to our 11 o’clock position and appeared higher in the sky. I recorded the first video at that point, which shows my location and altitude. I tracked the light for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, observing it move from my 9 o’clock to my 4 o’clock.
If I had to estimate, the object was cruising at an altitude of 50,000 to 60,000 feet and was moving very quickly, seemingly crossing the Great Lakes in just a few minutes.
It appeared as two white lights, one of which was pulsating, and the lighting did not resemble that of a typical aircraft, even when viewed through binoculars.
Additionally, we didn’t see anything on TCAS, and ATC had no detection of it either.
I’m curious: what could this have been?
That sounds like an intriguing experience! Given the altitude, speed, and characteristics you described, there are a few possibilities for what you might have seen over Lake Michigan.
Military Aircraft: Some military jets operate at high altitudes and may not show up on standard TCAS systems, especially if they are not using transponders. Their lights can also differ from commercial aircraft lighting.
Weather Balloons or Research Craft: High-altitude weather balloons or experimental aircraft can reach altitudes of 50,000 to 60,000 feet. Some advanced research crafts can move quickly and have unusual lighting.
Drones: Large, high-altitude drones used for research or surveillance may also fit this description. However, they’re less commonly found at such altitudes.
Astronomical Phenomena: If the lights were particularly bright and pulsating, there’s a chance you were witnessing a celestial event or atmospheric phenomena, such as reflections from the atmosphere.
UAVs or UAV Technology Testing: If this was a recent event with advanced technology being tested, it could have been a part of developmental flight testing of new UAVs.
Without more detailed information or tracking data, it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what it was. Have you considered reporting it to any local aviation or UFO organizations? They might be able to provide additional insights based on your sighting.