| Description | Observed numerous lights fading in and out, some pulsing, when one light shot away at tremendous speed. 57 seconds of video from cockpit captured this event. Many ANC based pilots have witnessed this on a frequent basis while flying all-night flights from the islands to Anchorage. UAPSRS ASSESSMENT: The witness’s description of objects “fading in and out” and “pulsing” appears to be consistent with recent pilot observations of Starlink satellites, where sunlight from across the horizon reflecting off the objects as they pass within a pilot’s field of view a great distance away can produce an effect often described as “pulsing” or “fading.” Some descriptions of the effect created by these unique visual conditions has been described by pilots as having a “racetrack” effect, as the passing of Starlink satellites one after the other ahead of the observer’s vantage point can create the illusion of a single object revolving in a circular pattern, with each satellite’s glint interpreted as the revolutions of a singular craft or object. The high-speed departure of one light, however, was noted as anomalous and not typical of satellite behavior, although video the witness provided to UAPSRS does not appear to document this event. UAPSRS assesses with moderate confidence that the objects shown in video provided (see below) are consistent with ongoing cockpit observations of Starlink satellites reported by pilots. |
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