Borrego Springs is an international dark sky community. There was no light pollution. My sighting was spectacular albeit short-lived and requiring dodging between palm tree trunks. It was a bright solid orange oblate object trailing a long light-colored vapor trail. Being grounded in science my first thought was a large space debris re-entering the atmosphere. I considered a bolide. Not right for a fireball. Certainly not a rocket launch from Vandenberg with such a flat west to east trajectory.
I HAVE PONDERED WHAT I SAW EVERY NIGHT SINCE THEN DURING MY NIGHTLY SITTING OUT BACK IN THE DARK . ALL OF MY MANY INTERNET SEARCHES OVER THE LAST MONTH PLUS FAILED UNTIL I DISCOVERED YOUR SITE THIS EVENING WHILE SEARCHING NEW POSSIBILITIES SEEKING AN ANSWER. NOW I KNOW WHAT I SAW ... SPACE DEBRIS WITH AN IDENTITY NO LESS! THANK YOU!! John Ruddl;ey
