Map Showing Location of Burbank, South Dakota.
Burbank is Near Nebraska Border Across From Missouri River

Date of Sighting: October 16, 2007
Time of Sighting: 9:15 to 9:20 PM
Date Sighting Reported: October 30, 2007
Duration of Sighting: 5 Minutes
Location of Sighting: Burbank, South Dakota (See Map)
Latitude: 42.74 Degrees North
Longitude: 96.82 Degrees West
Number of Witnesses: Six
Number of Witnesses Interviewed: One
Weather: Witness Stated Skies Were Clear.
Astronomical: Moonset to the South-Southwest (224 Degrees) at 9:35 PM. Moon Was Crescent Shaped With 35% Illumination.

Description (In Witness's Own Words): On October 16, 2007, at our home on the bank of the Missouri River west of Burbank, South Dakota, during a dinner party involving three middle-aged couples (yes, we were drinking wine), I looked out the door toward the river (SSW direction toward Nebraska) and saw what appeared to be a large, setting, harvest-red moon-like shape on the horizon. Since it was very dark outside, about 9 PM, and the moon was supposed to be rising in the northeast at that time, the oddity of the sighting caused me to call all the guests outside to see this thing. Most of us viewed it for about five minutes before it "set" below the horizon toward a direction which is south of Newcastle, NE, from out viewpoint. During our viewing on this cloudless night, the object remained stationary (like a setting moon), but transformed in shape and color over the five minute period. Unfortunately, no one took a picure of it. The deep-red-orange object began as a round shape, then became lighter in color, then transformed into a crescent-moon-shape facing left within the still visible circular shape; then a round whitish object seemed to form below the lower crescent; then the crescent shape disappeared within the round shape; then the whole shape slowly descended below the horizon of river bluffs. During the sighting one of our guests telephoned a friend at the Castle Bar in Newcastle, Nebraska, and asked if there was a fire nearby, or if anyone had seen anything strange. No one had. Last night I got word of an October 18th NBC News video of a Nebraska UFO sighting, but I haven't seen it. So I'm curious as to who else saw what we six saw on October 16, 2007.

Investigator's Notes: After looking at astronomical data it is obvious that the witnesses saw the moon setting. The time and position of their observation corresponds almost exactly with the moon's position. The apparent changing in shape and colors could be due to attenuation through the atmosphere. This can happen if there is any haze or pollution in the area. The attentuation is more pronounced when celestial objects are closer to the horizon.