Frame-like shape over Isleworth
- James Bowen
- Dec 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Sighting details
Date: 12.08.2025
Time: 23:30
Location: Isleworth
Sighting Account
On the night of Tuesday 12th August 2025 continuing into the early hours of the 13th the witness, located at Isleworth, London was outside in their garden observing the Perseid meteor shower. The sky was reported to be clear and mild with still air and no cloud cover, though light pollution from the surrounding area was noted. The witness described the night as bright due to a supermoon, which made celestial observation more challenging but still allowed for occasional meteor activity.
Having spent approximately three to four hours observing the night sky and tracking both meteors and passing satellites the witness’s attention was drawn to an object that appeared suddenly while they were watching an aircraft travelling due west. The witness described the object as self-illuminated and glowing up in intensity much like a distant lighthouse beacon before fading away completely after only two to three seconds. It was positioned slightly to the left of The Plough/Big Dipper constellation, at an estimated altitude of around 60 degrees above the horizon.
The object was described as having a distinct structure, resembling a skeletal or ladder-like frame similar in form to a French ‘tabac’ sign. The illumination appeared white and neon-like and for a brief moment it was reported to be the brightest object in the sky and surpassing even the moon’s brightness. The witness reported no sound associated with the object and observed it to be smaller than the size of the moon. The light appeared to fade out gradually rather than move away which gave the impression of something that “powered up and then powered down.”
No additional witnesses were present during the observation and no physical or environmental effects were noted. The witness did not manage to capture the event on camera but produced a digital reconstruction of the sighting using Photoshop by combining a real photograph of their garden with a representation of the object for reference.
Local area
The witness’s location in Isleworth lies directly beneath the flight paths for London Heathrow Airport which is one of the world’s busiest airports. Residents in this area regularly observe low-flying commercial aircraft during arrival and departure phases. The presence of the airport alone means that unusual aircraft lighting or reflections may easily be misinterpreted as aerial anomalies.
In addition, the area hosts several sports and leisure venues that use floodlights or high-powered lighting during evenings. Such as the floodlit 3G pitches at Goals Gillette Corner in Isleworth.
Strong artificial lights when angled upward or reflected off low clouds or haze can produce glows or streaks in the sky that may look like sudden bright objects. Nearby sports grounds and fields may have event lighting or maintenance lighting which spills upward and can create unusual silhouettes or reflections.
Events
London’s general event calendars include festivals, theatre performances, art installations and outdoor concerts in August but none are specifically scheduled around 23:30 in the area that match the sighting. There is also no mention in London event guides of balloon releases, laser displays or aerial shows on this particular night.
Weather
What is documented is that August 12, 2025 corresponded with very hot weather conditions and a heat alert across London. This could affect atmospheric clarity, but does not itself constitute a deliberate event that would mimic a UFO.
Analysis
The witness’s observation took place during a clear and still August night at the peak of the Perseid meteor shower at a time when numerous bright light phenomena are visible in the night sky. The witness also noted the presence of a supermoon which would have significantly increased ambient brightness and enhanced the reflective potential of high-altitude objects such as satellites, aircraft or space debris.
The described behaviour of the object suddenly glowing into view, maintaining brightness briefly and then fading out without apparent motion or sound is strongly characteristic of a satellite flare. This can occur when light reflects off flat or metallic surfaces such as the solar panels or antennae of satellites and produce a sudden and localized flash of light visible from the ground. These events are often stationary to the observer and the light intensity can exceed that of the moon for a few seconds before fading rapidly as the angle of reflection changes.
The comparison of the light to a lighthouse beam “powering up and down” aligns closely with the optical behaviour of such reflections. The direction of observation north-west near The Plough (Big Dipper) also helps supports this explanation. This region of the sky is frequently traversed by low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites including Starlink and other communication satellites which can produce structured reflections due to their linear configurations.
A “skeletal” or “ladder-like” appearance of illuminated objects can be attributed to momentary glare distortion or light diffraction caused by the reflective geometry of the satellite’s components. When viewed against a dark sky a satellite flare can momentarily appear to have structure particularly to an observer focusing intently on the source. The brightness of the supermoon that night would have caused contrast adaptation to the eyes making the brief flare appear even sharper and more defined.
Listed below are examples of satellites with explanations of how their flares occur and why they might look strange or unfamiliar to witnesses.
Iridium satellites (older generation) produced extremely bright, short flares when their flat communication antennas reflected sunlight toward a single spot on Earth. Observers reported the object “lighting up” for 1–3 seconds and then fading which are very similar to “glowed up and then faded.” Photographs and videos exist showing the flare as a single intense point that can briefly outshine planets.
NOSS satellites often travel in close formation (pairs or triplets). On occasion they briefly brighten (flare) and can appear as a short line, pair, or small cluster and sometimes giving an impression of structure or segmentation rather than a single dot. Observers and dedicated imaging projects have captured NOSS flares and documented their “paired” appearance.
Starlink satellites commonly appear as trains of dots and individual Starlinks can produce brief glints when light reflects from panels or surfaces. These glints can be sudden and intense and because Starlinks may be in line or have bits of hardware that catch light differently they can appear structured or elongated in short exposures or to the unaided eye. Starlink are commonly misidentified as UFOs.
Other satellites with large platforms with extended solar panels (e.g. the ISS, some weather or Earth-observation satellites, or older communication craft) can produce bright glints when panels or surfaces line up with the Sun and an observer. These can sometimes briefly outline linear or panelled structure and appear as a momentary, intense glow. The ISS in particular can produce very bright reflections, though its visible pass typically lasts longer than a few seconds.
Resources
LEO Satellites Information
Night Sky Viewer www.stellarium.org
ISS Tracker www.isstracker.pl/en
Starlink Tracker
Astronomy & Observing News www.skyandtelescope.org
Conclusion
The absence of any scheduled aerial or lighting events in the area reduces the likelihood that the object was part of a man-made display such as a drone show, lantern release or laser projection. The description, movement and duration of the sighting do not correspond with conventional aircraft behaviour as no navigation lights, structured flight pattern or sound were reported.
Considering the object’s brief illumination, position and fading characteristics the evidence aligns most closely with a satellite reflection or flare event. While the exact identity of the object cannot be confirmed without further supporting data the available information strongly suggests that the witness observed a satellite flare rather than an unidentified aerial phenomenon.
James Bowen
BUFORA AI