Arizona ufo
© MUFON databaseWitness photo was cropped.
A circular or spherical UFO hovered over Coolidge, Arizona, September 11, until it disappeared behind clouds nearly an hour later, according to witness testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) database.

The witness first saw the object while driving along Arizona Highway 87 near the Gila Indian Reservation at 6:15 p.m., but then continued the observation in Coolidge.

The object was described as "significantly brighter than anything else appearing in the northern sky at this time," and initially a bright "clean" white light.

The object's color changed to an orange/yellow, then to orange, then to red - all over a 25 to 40 minute period.

When the first cloud coverage hid the object, the witness said the object could still be seen - but that it was "slightly less bright."

Then the object "steadily faded in brilliance until it was no longer visible. When the clouds passed and clear sky appeared the object was still not visible. The object did not reappear. No sounds, sensations or movements were associated with the object."

Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, population 8,154.

Following is the unedited witness statement from MUFON. Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or manmade. If MUFON investigates and reports back on any of these cases, I will update this page.

Arizona ufo
© MUFON databaseWitness image was cropped and enlarged.
Arizona, September 11, 2009 - Prominent stationary luminous object observed prior to and during sunset in sky north of Coolidge AZ. MUFON Case # 19269.

Object was first observed while traveling south on AZ Hwy 87 through the Gila Indian reservation in the vicinity of the Blackwater trading post, at approximately 1815 hrs.

The object was significantly brighter than anything else appearing in the northern sky at this time. The initial impression was that it could possibly be the landing lights of a commercial aircraft on approach (which frequently fly over the area).

Arizona ufo
© MUFON databaseWitness image was cropped and enlarged.
However the size and brightness of the object would have indicated that the aircraft would have been flying much lower than usual.

Given the time of day, there was still a significant amount of sunlight which should have made the shape of any aircraft visible, none was observed.

Upon closer inspection the object seemed to maintain a stationary position. The initial color of the observed object was a very bright "clean" white light. The exact shape of the object was difficult to determine due to its luminescence, but was roughly circular/spherical.

Arizona ufo
© MUFON databaseWitness image was reduced in size for this page.
The object was observed further upon arriving in Coolidge AZ, approximately 5-10 minutes later. The object had not seemed to change position, luminosity or color during this time frame.

The object remained stationary in the sky North/NW of Coolige AZ for the next 25-40 minutes. The brightness of the object remained constant with the exception of a slight dimming effect when occasional clouds seemingly passed between the object and observers. The color of the object changed from a "clean", bright white light to an orange/yellow to an orange to a red color during the 25-40 minutes it was observed. This change in color seemed directly proportional to the degree with which the sun past below the horizon. During this time, while the color changed, the brightness did not seem to change.

As the sun dropped below the horizon the object had taken on a distinctly red coloration. A few minutes later a cloud seemed to pass in front of the object which remained visible, though slightly less bright. During this time behind the cloud, the object steadily faded in brilliance until it was no longer visible. When the clouds passed and clear sky appeared the object was still not visible. The object did not reappear. No sounds, sensations or movements were associated with the object. The only feelings were those of curiosity as to the nature of the object.