On the night of July 4th, 2000, I found myself seated on my deck in Urbandale, Iowa, immersed in the festive glow of fireworks. My home sits just south of 86th Street with my backyard stretching out to Hickman Road, a quiet vantage point that framed an extraordinary sight. Amid the usual bursts of celebratory light, a unique red light caught my eye — a radiant, glowing orb that stayed perfectly still against the darkened sky.
This was no ordinary light. Unlike the flickering trails of fireworks or distant airplane lights, this red orb maintained a steady, almost hypnotic presence. It didn’t blink nor pulse; it simply hung there, mysterious and serene. The stillness of that sphere contrasted powerfully with the lively chaos of the fireworks display, marking it as something truly unearthly.
As I observed, the red globe suddenly began to ascend with a breathtaking acceleration, disappearing upward faster than anything I had ever witnessed in the sky. Its movement was precise, direct, and swift — leaving behind no trail or noise, just the lingering wonder of its impossible speed.
I talked about this encounter for weeks afterward, the image etched vividly in my mind. The next day, it even sparked conversations on local radio talk shows in Des Moines, sparking intrigue and speculation among UFO enthusiasts and curious listeners alike.
This experience remains one of the most compelling moments of my life, a quiet, mysterious light that challenged everything I thought I knew about the night sky and what might be watching back silently in return.