Scanned Photo of Ring Noticed on Morning After Husband Saw Bright Light Over Pasture.
(Some Enhancements Were Made to Better Display Ring.)

Roanoke is a Suburb a Few Miles Northwest of Dallas-Ft Worth.

Date of Sighting: September 20, 2008
Time of Sighting: Around 3 AM CDT
Date Sighting Reported: October 2, 2008
Duration of Sighting: Few Seconds.
Location of Sighting: Roanoke, Texas (Pastureland to NW of Dallas-Ft. Worth - See Map)
Latitude: 33.07 Degrees North
Longitude: 97.23 Degrees West
Number of Witnesses: One
Weather: Skies Were Clear. Visibility Was 10 Miles. Winds Were Calm.

Description: I am sending some pictures which were taken in my pasture about two weeks ago. It is a black circle about 15 feet across and it was "hard to wash off." I would like to know what you think? My husband got up at 3 AM to go to the restroom. He said that it was "real light" out, but he didn't look out. He wished that he had looked out. We have had another sightings in this area.

Additional Information Obtained From Witness: The circle is gone. It rained two inches and washed it away. My husband took some samples right after we first noticed the circle, but we haven't had any luck finding someone to analyze them. We first noticed the circle the morning after my husband saw the bright light (in the direction of the circle). The black residue around the circle was "kind of frosted" and glowed somewhat.

Comments: The fact that a black circle appeared right after a bright light was sighted suggests that something may have landed or some type of radiation or heat process burned a circle in the ground. The weather conditions at nearby Dallas certainly do not indicate that the circle could have been burned by lightning because no thunderstorms were in the area. I have made arrangements to obtain the samples taken by the witness. These samples will be sent to a professional chemist and analyzed. Updates will be posted.

Update - January 21, 2009: Organic chemist Phyllis Budinger is analyzing the samples (ring sample and control sample). Preliminary results show less water in the ring sample suggesting that the ring was exposed to a "high heat process."

Update - January 26, 2009: Chemical analysis has been completed by organic chemist Phyllis Budinger. Analysis indicates that ring could have possibly formed due to high heat process. The rationale for these conclusions is based on the fact that the area of the ring residue has less moisture and more crystallization. (Phyllis Budinger says that these conclusions are not "clear cut" and are somewhat speculative.) Read report. (PDF)

Update - February 17, 2009: The witness stated that the pet cat went "wild" immediately after the ring appeared. The cat continued strange behavior for about two months after the ring appeared. The cat was housed in the barn which was about 25 feet from the ring.