Last night about 12:30 a.m. I walked up to the beach by One Seagrove Place. I was enjoying the sound of the surf and the star-lit sky when I noticed a star right on the horizon. I marveled at how low it was and wondered if I'd ever seen one as low. I assumed I never had before because of that portion of the sky usually being interrupted by building or other obstructions, and maybe because of the Earth's atmosphere.
Anyway, I looked away, then looked back, and it was gone. I stared into the area for a while and then noticed some strange lights. I was looking out toward Destin, but definately out over the gulf. The lights were very bright and sparkling as it went upward. It almost appeared like fireworks would, but it was different. I wondered if perhaps it was a flare or some military exercise.
I saw another one sent upward from closer in to the beach, then another out in the gulf. The lights were very bright, similar to fireworks, but did not have an additional explosion at the end where it branches out into a circle. It was just a light that went up in a line and had like sparkles emminating from that center. I always thought a flare was just a straight light, but there may be different types.
I did make a phone call to report it in case it was a flare or distress signal of some type, and in case someone else would report the same thing so it would be taken seriously if in fact it was a distress signal.
If anyone has any idea what it may have been, or if this is some type of military operation that occurs and I just don't know of it.
I noticed something odd the other night too. I'm sure most people have seen the moon when it has the ring of light around it way out to its sides. The other night that was the case and also there appeared to be a light, like a spot light that came from just adjacent to the moon. But the light moved off slowly at a consistent pace and kept my attention. Because the moon was illuminating so well, I finally concluded that what appeared to be a light must have in fact just been a jet exhaust trail that was able to be seen in the moon's light. I wathed it continue for a while though and thought it was a neat sighting.
Anyway, I'd love to know what that was last night that was happening in the sky out over the gulf. Any ideas?