Wow

Last night I was out with my friend Regulus, and he stopped me to point something out in the sky.  Keep in mind this was a well-lit street and a nearly full moon--and yet we could see clearly four lights in the sky (he saw five at first). 

They were in a diamond pattern, moving at a medium speed, and at first I took them for some kind of airplane formation (perhaps military aircraft) but the lights were steady--no blinking--and amber.  

As we watched, they slowly faded out, one by one; not shutting off, but darkening until they disappeared.  Regulus thought that they were in lower Earth orbit, and passing into the shadow of the Earth.  But unless one was at a different height than the others, they didn't do so in the right order. 

I thought they were aircraft, and much lower, though still far too high for us to hear engines.  But the behaviour didn't match, particularly given where we were at the time (restricted airspace overhead). 

The truth is, we really don't know what they were.  Not space debris, as their trajectory was controlled and they were moving in relation to one another; not anything like the International Space Station, which is only a bright spot of light when seen from here.  They were far enough apart to be separate objects; my outstretched hand could have covered them, but not by much. 

So, reluctant as I am to use a term with so much baggage, I have to call the sighting a UFO.  Hmm. 

That said, I had a lovely time with Regulus and his friend Kiki.  We went to the Zoo and supper, and got along very well.  She's fascinating.