Malc,
I have seen that once years ago. Gin clear night and i saw a star moving, i mean BIG distances across the night sky. Then it stopped and went off at a sort of 120 degree angle...it kept doing this for at least 20 minutes, in fact we had time to bring people out into the street and watch it too. Then suddenly whoosh..it just shot off right across the sky..not downward but just shot away..
After a lifetime as a pilot I still cant explain it.
Years later I was flying in Jukhovsky (aviation city Moscow) and had dinner with my parthers Father. His name is Ostapenko a decorated hero of the soviet union as he was the Russian pilot who flew the world record attempts for the Soviets in the 60s. On his later flights he always carried a single missile, which is the last thing you need to attempt a world speed or height record - but if you think what we saw was strange you should have heard his story!
What i (we) saw was contolled, deliberate and capable is rediculous speed. What Ostapenko saw was much closer.
TRUE STORY