Residents Report Sightings Of Mysterious, Shiny Object In Sky
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A mysterious object spotted in the skies over parts of the Pittsburgh area caused quite a stir Thursday evening.
KDKA received some calls into our newsroom about it, starting around 8 p.m.
People reported seeing a shiny, silver object in the sky. The reports were coming from areas west of downtown.
"Around 8 p.m., we were looking up into the northern sky and saw what looked like just to be a bright, silver object in the sky, and then after we got a telescope on it, it looked like it was a clear balloon that was catching the light as it moved from west to east," said Russ Moll, of McKees Rocks.
Moll says it was it a very odd sight in the evening sky.
"It stood out because it was before dusk and so the stars weren't out yet, so it just really caught our eye," Moll said. "You noticed it as being something out of the ordinary."
Moll said he thought it was possibly a weather balloon.
"Then, we got a telescope out to try and verify what it was or see what it was, and to me it looked like it was a weather balloon or some other type of balloon that was released at some point that was catching the sun light," Moll said.
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The National Weather Service sends balloons up to measure atmospheric conditions; however, they said they had no issues Thursday night.
In a statement, they say: "We've had no issues with the launch this evening or any calls about objects floating/glowing in the sky."
The Carnegie Science Center had not definite answer either. But the manager of their planetarium Mike Hennessy said: "It could be the International Space Station. Venus is a strong possibility as it set West Northwest. Jupiter is also likely as it setting in the West tonight, in just a few minutes. Less likely, but worth noting: Mars has been putting on a glorious show of reddish/gold hue in the South. It's a great month for planet gazing!"
KDKA has also reached out to FAA, but have not received comment yet.
