The Siren

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsAugust 12

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September 20

Ad Astra

August 12

Seattle area residents reported fireballs in the sky late Thursday night. The unusual display, which seems to have lasted several hours, consisted of bright white and blue meteor-like flashes of light that lit up the sky from Whidbey Island all the way to Tacoma.

According to eyewitness reports, the lights went streaking above the clouds along a north-south course that apparently followed the coast line. Carol Quinn, 48-year-old resident of Martha Lake, claims to have attempted to capture footage of the aerial lights, but has only a fried camcorder to show for her efforts. "It just caught fire as soon as I pointed it toward the sky," she told reporters during a telephone interview. She declines to submit the camcorder for inspection.

Astronomical expert Ian Gregsen, formerly employed by NASA and currently living in Lea Hill, says the pattern was consistent with space trash falling through the upper atmosphere. "I got chills," he said. "It was just like watching the Columbia happen all over again." In his professional opinion, the lights were most likely due to an old satellite breaking up as its orbit decayed. He cautions souvenir-seekers not to pick up any debris they might find, due to the risk of radiation.