UFO: I was on the roof of a friends apartment with 5 other people. We all witnessed this event.

[DCKit]

26. I saw something like your first sighting a couple of years back.

We were way out in the country, in the Appalachians, and it was also a red ball of light, but it moved more like a helicopter - up and down, back and forth, often stationary. Given that there was another mountain behind and framing it, I'm thinking it wasn't Mars, either.

It lasted for about twenty minutes before zipping away (really fast) behind a hill that's less than 1/4 mile from where we were standing. First thing I would have thought would be St. Elmo's fire, but the area is totally devoid of electric lines, red isn't often reported, and I've never heard of St. Elmo's fire lasting that long.

I didn't even think of going in the house to get the camera or cell phone, 'cause every time I do that, I miss something good.

I'm still hoping to see a real fireball of a meteor, but I've seen some amazing meteorites, including a yellow one that exploded in a shower of yellow dust right over my head then, last summer, a green one that did the same, right after another green one had just fizzled out.