Just after sunset on a calm evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I stepped outside and caught sight of a bright white light cutting across the southeastern twilight sky. The glow was less intense than Venus, perched high — about forty degrees above the horizon — yet it commanded my full attention. The sky was still bright enough to hide stars, with only a slender crescent moon visible to the southwest.
Curiosity urged me to fetch my binoculars from the car. Peering through the lenses, I saw the light as a single, steady point—devoid of colored navigation indicators or the usual strobe flashes typical of airplanes or helicopters. It traveled in a smooth, unwavering line, moving steadily from the southeast toward the northeast.
The sight lasted a sustained 90 to 120 seconds before gradually fading into the distance. Initially, I suspected it might be the International Space Station, but a quick check with tracking apps revealed the ISS was not visible in my area at that time, expected instead in the northwest sky hours later.
This luminous visitor remains unexplained, a fleeting beacon in the waning twilight, stirring intrigue and questions. For those passionate about unexplained aerial phenomena, this encounter in Grand Rapids proves that the skies still hold secrets waiting to be uncovered.