On 16 October 2012 in Virgie, Kentucky, a local science teacher and amateur astronomer, Allen Epling, spotted a fascinating object in the sky and was lucky enough to image it for a few hours.
Here are stills of the item as well as what one keen observer believe it to be (from Korea). A special tubular balloon with a ballast.
More info:
Appalachian News-Express reported:
Mystery object in sky captivates locals
Friday, October 19, 2012 5:00 am
By Chris Anderson, News Editor
An unidentified flying object was reportedly seen in several areas of Pike County on Tuesday, but officials have no information as to what the object may have been.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Shaun Little told the News-Express that KSP Post 9 in Pikeville received five calls on Tuesday reporting the object in the sky. The object was visible from several areas, including the South Williamson area and Elkhorn City in Pike County, as well as Jenkins in Letcher County. It was also spotted and photographed in Virgie.
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And from the YouTube video, the salient interchange between Mr. Epling and a poster.
I think you have found it. I went to the site for the South Korean balloons and they look very similar to my image. Those were designed to burst at a given altitude. Could one have survived and made it here? In my image there seems to be a brown package on the underside of the object like the S.K. balloons have.
Allen Epling*in reply to*Keith McCready
Reply
Maybe it's socks "Unusual aid: socks to save lives in North Korea" rt.com\news\north-korea-peace-*balloons-617
Keith McCready*in reply to*Allen Epling
Good work! Yes the still pics seem to show a green/brown 'package' on one end - I couldn't quite tell from the video which has some internal reflections -- but i am glad you went to the effort to video through your 'scope -- I have always enjoyed sky watching, but I have no telescope and no dark skies in the city where I live now.
Keith McCready*in reply to*Allen Epling
I believe at the altitude that thing was at, it could have travelled around the world. Honestly, I have not seen anything so similar to my sighting as the last balloon you sent me too. I believe that is a likely candidate. Where did it come from and who sent it up. Its not likely to be a backyard project.
Allen Epling*in reply to*Keith McCready*
Reply
"Where did it come from and who sent it up?" -- that is *the* question. There are a couple other videos on YouTube that seem to show similar "cylinder UFOs" -- and there are "Solar Balloons" that are backyard projects that have a similar shape (but are black to heat in the sun) -- a Google Image search for "solar balloon" will show those -- but yours was transparent -- looking very much like the South Korean "propaganda balloons."
Keith McCready*in reply to*Allen Epling
I think you have found it. I went to the site for the South Korean balloons and they look very similar to my image. Those were designed to burst at a given altitude. Could one have survived and made it here? In my image there seems to be a brown package on the underside of the object like the S.K. balloons have.
Allen Epling*in reply to*Keith McCready