What Happened
On January 20, 2010, at around 7:30 p.m., a man stepped outside his home to smoke a cigarette and looked up at the clear skies over Quito, Ecuador’s capital. He noticed a small, star-like object moving vertically from south to north at a speed of at least 600 km/h. By his estimate, it crossed the sky in 20 to 30 seconds, then continued upward for about four more minutes before disappearing from view.
He called his teenage daughter over, then his ten-year-old son and his wife. The three children came out to see the strange light, which appeared to be a round, glowing object. The family thought sunlight was illuminating it, even though it was high in the sky and far from the ground. They described two glowing orbs traveling in the same direction at the same speed. A second appeared after the first vanished.
While they watched, the phone rang. The daughter received a call about her son, the older brother, who had invited him to come to a plot of land called Carapungo. The boy, who was with a friend, was told about the sighting but remained skeptical. The family continued watching the objects until their lights went out.
Local Context
Quito sits about 2,800 meters above sea level, where atmospheric conditions can produce unusual optical effects. Still, fast-moving objects shining brightly are rare, making this report of interest to those who collect accounts of unexplained sightings.
What Makes the Report Interesting?
- High speed: Witnesses estimated the objects were moving at more than 600 km/h, making them difficult to identify as conventional aircraft.
- Duration: The objects remained visible for about four minutes, a relatively long time for emergency lights.
- Number of witnesses: Four adults and three children reportedly saw the objects, providing multiple accounts of the event.
- Two objects: After one disappeared, another appeared, suggesting an ongoing phenomenon rather than a single, brief incident.
Summary
The report is unverified, but offers a detailed account of two round, glowing objects in the sky over Quito. The source does not mention camera footage or scientific measurements, but the event raises questions about possible atmospheric phenomena or sightings of unidentified aircraft.
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This article was written by the magazine’s editorial team, based on information published in the NUFORC database.
