Over two nights in September 2023, three witnesses at Stanton Creek on Lake Powell observed a brilliant white orb dancing with a red octopus-shaped entity, surrounded by a gathering of luminous objects.
THINK ABOUTIT UFO|UAP|ENTITY SIGHTINGS REPORT
2023: Lake Powell UAP: Detailed Account of Orbs and “Octopus” Entities
Over two nights in September 2023 — timed to a new moon for optimal dark-sky viewing — a 61-year-old stargazer and two companions camping at Stanton Creek on Lake Powell, Utah, reported a sustained, multi-phase encounter with aerial phenomena that began with a single brilliant orb dancing with a red octopus-shaped entity over the opposite shore, escalated into a massive gathering of luminous objects surrounding their camp on all sides, and culminated in a close-range beach encounter where the younger witnesses described non-human entities standing near a vehicle beside a stationary light. The account, submitted directly to Think AboutIt, is among the most detailed primary-witness UAP reports in the contemporary Utah file — remarkable for its observational specificity, its multiple-witness corroboration, and its honest account of perceptual disorientation.
The Lake Powell report occupies a category that resists easy classification: an extended, multi-event encounter with both aerial phenomena and apparent entity observation, reported by three witnesses who cross-checked each other’s perceptions throughout the experience and who describe both awe and physical effects with a candor that suggests neither fabrication nor conventional explanation.
Date: September 13–14, 2023
Sighting Time: Approximately midnight to 4:00 AM (both nights)
Day/Night: Night
Location: Stanton Creek primitive camping area, Lake Powell, Utah
Urban or Rural: Rural (primitive camp area, minimal light pollution, dark-sky location)
No. of Entity(‘s): Multiple — one red octopus-shaped entity (Night 1); two non-human entities observed by companions on a beach (Night 2)
Entity Type: Unknown / Non-humanoid (octopus-like entity); unknown type (beach entities observed by companions)
Entity Description: Night 1: A brilliant red, octopus-like shape with a main body and multiple trailing legs, each leg featuring 6–7 small, brilliant red orbs incrementally spaced; appeared to dance with and occasionally connect to a white orb above it. Night 2: Two non-human entities standing near what appeared to be a vehicle beside a stationary light on a beach, observed by the two younger witnesses after a brilliant light illuminated their tent.
Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) — Observation of animate entities in proximity to anomalous aerial phenomena at close range
Duration: Two nights; approximately 4+ hours per night
No. of Object(s): Multiple — one primary white orb with associated red entity; large gathering of white orbs; distant clusters (white and multi-colored); one triangle-shaped object
Description of the Object(s): Brilliant, energetic star-like orbs with a bluish-white hue; some slightly larger and orangish; primary orb exhibited powerful spotlight capability; one triangle-shaped object with a white tip and red/green sides; red octopus-shaped entity associated with primary orb on Night 1
Shape of Object(s): Spherical/Orb (primary) | Octopus-like (entity) | Triangle (one object)
Size of Object(s): Not precisely estimated; orbs described as “star-like” in appearance but capable of lighting up large areas
Color of Object(s): Brilliant white with bluish hue (primary orbs); brilliant red (octopus entity); orange, green (secondary objects)
Distance to Object(s): Approximately 40 feet at closest approach; orbs were observed across the bay (hundreds of yards), directly overhead, and at various intermediate distances
Height & Speed: Near ground level to overhead; erratic, rapid movement with sudden directional changes
Number of Witnesses: 3 (primary witness, age 61, and two younger companions)
Special Features/Characteristics: Orbs appeared to clone or spawn smaller secondary orbs; powerful spotlight-like beam projected toward ground; orbs exhibited apparent awareness of observers and approached directly when watched; witnesses experienced dizziness and disorientation during close approaches; orbs appeared integrated with a low, dark-hued cloud system; cross-bay clusters moved in synchronized vertical patterns; tent illumination event (Night 2) followed by beach entity encounter by younger witnesses; no sound associated with orb phenomena
Case Status: Unexplained — Multiple-witness primary account with internal cross-verification; no photographic evidence; no independent third-party investigation documented
Source: Primary witness report submitted directly to Think AboutIt (published January 27, 2026)
Summary/Description: Three witnesses camping at Stanton Creek on Lake Powell, Utah, during the September 14, 2023 new moon reported a two-night encounter with multiple anomalous phenomena. Night 1 began with clear skies that transitioned to low cloud cover, coinciding with the appearance of a brilliant white orb and an associated red octopus-shaped entity across the bay. The orb exhibited erratic, non-drone-like movement and powerful spotlight capability. Additional orbs appeared in increasing numbers, eventually surrounding the camp on all sides and overhead, integrated with a low cloud system. The primary witness reported orbs appearing to approach directly when watched, causing dizziness. Night 2 centered on a prominent orb near the original sighting location, distant multi-colored clusters near Hall’s Crossing, and a close-range experience in which the younger witnesses reported tent illumination followed by an encounter with two non-human entities on a nearby beach. All three witnesses cross-checked observations throughout both nights.
Related Cases: 2002: Dixieland Encounter | 1998: SLC Sphere
Detailed Report
The primary witness, a 61-year-old self-described avid stargazer, traveled to Lake Powell’s Bullfrog Marina with two younger companions on September 12, 2023, planning a multi-day camping and boating trip. They selected a campsite at Stanton Creek, a primitive camping area with direct water access and its own bay with camping areas on either side. The location was chosen partly for its dark-sky qualities — minimal light pollution — and the dates were selected to coincide with the September 14 new moon, optimal for stargazing.
The first night, September 12, was cloudy and uneventful. The second evening, September 13, began with clear skies offering excellent views of the Milky Way. As the evening progressed, clouds arrived and obscured the stars. With their attention no longer directed skyward at the star field, the group began noticing anomalies around them.
The first object appeared across the bay and was initially dismissed as a drone. However, the group’s assessment changed rapidly. One of the younger witnesses, a licensed drone pilot, stated definitively that the object’s movement was inconsistent with drone flight — too dynamic, covering distances too quickly, and flying dangerously close to rocky outcroppings at night. The object was a brilliant, energetic star-like orb with a bluish-white hue.
Beneath this white orb, a second entity became visible — a brilliant red, octopus-like shape with a main body and multiple trailing legs, each leg featuring approximately 6–7 small red orbs incrementally spaced. The white orb and red entity appeared to dance together, sometimes seeming connected, sometimes separating. The white orb projected a brilliant spotlight-like beam onto nearby rocks. The red entity also reflected light but more dimly. The primary witness lost sight of the red entity’s departure due to observing other phenomena and never saw it again after that first period.
As the night progressed, additional white orbs appeared in increasing numbers, each exhibiting its own pattern of erratic movement, travel, and disappearance. Some would reappear and repeat similar patterns. There was no rhythm or definitive pattern to the behavior — seemingly random activity repeated over hours.
The primary witness reported a particularly unsettling experience: when he stared at individual brighter orbs, he would develop a subjective feeling that they were aware of him, and the orb would appear to approach directly toward him in a perfectly straight line. He instinctively swiped his arm in front of him multiple times because the orbs felt extremely close. This happened 5–6 times and was accompanied by dizziness and unsteadiness. He was alarmed but reported never feeling in danger.
After approximately two hours of observing activity across the bay, the primary witness performed a 360-degree scan and discovered that the orbs were all around and above the camp. The group found themselves in the midst of a large gathering. The overhead orbs were less dynamic than the bay orbs — phasing in and out and occasionally shifting position — but appeared to be integrated with a strange, very low cloud system. The witness described the clouds as seeming to be “part and parcel” of the orb group rather than independent weather.
The group finally retired at approximately 4:00 AM, exhausted, although the activity continued.
Night 2 (September 14) began similarly — clear skies transitioning to low cloud cover. A prominent white orb appeared near the location of the previous night’s octopus entity, traveling a consistent 1/8 to 1/4 mile track for hours with powerful spotlight capability that illuminated large sections of rocky terrain. This orb appeared to clone or birth smaller secondary orbs that would trail off and disappear. Across the lake near Hall’s Crossing, two separate clusters — one white, one multi-colored — were observed hovering and moving in synchronized vertical patterns.
The most significant event of Night 2 occurred while the primary witness was resting. The two younger witnesses reported that a brilliant light illuminated their tent. They subsequently described an encounter on a nearby beach involving a stationary light and two non-human entities standing near what appeared to be a vehicle. The primary witness documented their accounts but was not present for this observation.
Throughout both nights, all three witnesses regularly verified each other’s observations, comparing what they were seeing in different directions and confirming shared perceptions. The primary witness emphasized this cross-checking throughout his report and expressed willingness to undergo any form of verification testing.
Researcher’s Notes
The Powell Gathering — Lake Powell 2023 and the Multi-Night Encounter Problem
- Classification Rationale — CE-III: The CE-III designation is applied based on the younger witnesses’ reported observation of two non-human entities on a beach during Night 2, in proximity to a stationary light source and apparent vehicle. While the primary witness did not observe this event directly, the report describes it as cross-verified between the two younger observers and consistent with the broader pattern of anomalous activity at the site. The orb phenomena alone would warrant NL classification; the entity observation elevates the case to CE-III. The octopus-shaped entity from Night 1, observed by all three witnesses, further supports the classification.
- Witness Credibility Indicators: Several features of the primary witness’s account support genuine observation rather than fabrication. The witness emphasizes his own confusion and inability to explain what he saw. He repeatedly notes the cross-verification protocol — checking with other witnesses during the experience, not after — which is characteristic of observers trying to maintain rational assessment under unusual conditions. His description of physical effects (dizziness, disorientation) is offered as discomforting rather than exciting. He specifically denies embellishment and offers to undergo lie-detection testing. The prose style is conversational rather than literary, with the unpolished quality of genuine recall. None of these indicators prove the account’s accuracy, but they are consistent with sincere testimony.
The Octopus Entity — Morphological Novelty: The red octopus-shaped entity described on Night 1 — a main body with multiple trailing legs, each carrying 6–7 incrementally spaced red orbs — does not correspond to any standard entity type in the UFO literature’s established taxonomy. It is neither humanoid, insectoid, nor robotic. The closest parallel in recent UAP discussion is the concept of anomalous non-humanoid intelligence that defies biological categorization. The entity’s apparent relationship with the white orb — dancing together, sometimes connected, sometimes separating — suggests either a symbiotic system or different manifestations of a single phenomenon. The morphological novelty of this description, reported by a witness with no apparent UFO-literature sophistication, is itself a data point of interest.
Dark-Sky Location and Perceptual Context: Lake Powell’s Stanton Creek area is an excellent dark-sky observation site with minimal light pollution. The witness specifically selected dates around the September 14 new moon. These conditions maximize visual sensitivity but also increase susceptibility to misidentification of faint natural phenomena — satellites, high-altitude aircraft, atmospheric effects, and bioluminescence. However, the described phenomena — orbs operating at or near ground level across a bay, exhibiting spotlight capabilities, approaching the observer directly, and associating with a red octopus-shaped entity — are not consistent with any atmospheric or astronomical source. The dark-sky conditions enhance the credibility of the structural observations while introducing the standard caveat about perceptual sensitivity in low-light environments.
- Documentation Gap: Three witnesses experienced a dramatic multi-night phenomenon and produced no photographic or video evidence. The primary witness does not address this directly. In 2023, smartphone cameras with excellent low-light capability were universal. The absence of documentation from a multi-hour, multi-night encounter is a significant evidentiary weakness that the compelling quality of the narrative alone cannot overcome. Whether the witnesses attempted and failed to capture the phenomena, chose not to, or were unable to due to the conditions or their emotional state is not documented.
- The Report’s Value: The Lake Powell account is a high-quality primary-witness narrative submitted directly to a UAP archive by a witness who presents as sincere, detailed, and self-aware about the extraordinary nature of his claims. It lacks the corroborating physical evidence — photographs, instrument readings, independent witness reports — that would elevate it from compelling testimony to actionable data. The archive treats it as what it is: the most detailed thing three people have ever tried to describe, offered under the honest acknowledgment that the most detailed description in the world is still testimony, not proof.
What happened at Stanton Creek in September 2023 left three people certain they had encountered something that does not fit within ordinary experience. The record holds their account with the respect it deserves and the evidentiary honesty it requires.
