Major UFO experiences are specific to the observer

[JMartJr]

If only we had a time machine! We could go back together and look at it again.

And being forewarned, could show up with a metric ton of recoding and measuring equipment, a phalanx of other witnesses (I always wanted to use "phalanx" on here!), a crew from as many news networks as possible, and perhaps a "Stop and be friendly" sign, as a "Close Encounters" homage.

It is not often we get advance word of these things... let's take full advantage!

 

[JMartJr]

Rather than a dime, what was the size compared to (say) a full moon?

So many people overestimate the size of the moon in the sky (I did until I was induced to check), I'd hang on to that dime comparison!

 

[Todd Feinman]

But if this event occurred near the McMinnville UFO festival, why didn't anyone at the festival see them? Unless it was a scheduled event.

It's a good question. Perhaps they were only visible or from a certain perspective. Perhaps that's something that they can do. They seemed very crisp and focused on me. You can see the illustrations on my about page.
Later when the officer and military pilot saw them, others did too. There were a number of people pulled off at the entrance to Roseburg along with the two who filed the report (NUFORC), and perhaps pictures were taken. Then they flew overhead and away.

 

[Eburacum]

So many people overestimate the size of the moon in the sky (I did until I was induced to check), I'd hang on to that dime comparison!

That is my point. A lot of people think the Moon is similar in size to a dime held at arm's length; this is not the case.

 

[Todd Feinman]

They weren't perfectly horizontal initially, they were in a line at a slight angle to the horizon, as in my illustration. If you imagine being in that driver seat in the illustration and held out your arm with a dime, that's how I drew them, how they appeared.

 

[Eburacum]

Would a dime cover them all, or just one?

And, as a question of interest, how big were they compared to a full moon? Larger? Smaller? The same size?

 

[Todd Feinman]

Would a dime cover them all, or just one?

And, as a question of interest, how big were they compared to a full moon? Larger? Smaller? The same size?

Just one; each was the size of a dime. I think they would be smaller than the full moon but not by much. I think the illustration shows their apparent size pretty well. When they showed up in front of me in the echelon-type formation they were glowing orange. I got the impression that they were giving off less energy; they were not as bright. I wonder if I got zapped by them initially. I did get shingles afterward and had a strange blood test.

 

[Eburacum]

Thing is, a dime at arm's length is actually twice as wide as the Moon (four times the surface area), so it seems likely that your remembered size for these objects is not entirely accurate.

The fact that you were in a car at the time may have affected your estimation of the apparent size as well, since your field of view would be diminished.

 

[Ann K]

If it was advertised (or expected) that would explain why few people were fooled by the event, or at least not enough to mention it.