ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND BY ACR LGT CREW WHEN EXPERIENCING A BRIGHT LIGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RE- ENTRY OF SOME SPACE MATERIAL OR DECAYED SATELLITE.

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ENRTE ATL-SLC APPROX XA45 PM CST AT FL390; IN CLR ABOUT 6000 FT ABOVE THIN CIRRUS DECK. ACFT WAS ILLUMINATED BY A VERY BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT INCLUDING INSIDE OF COCKPIT. WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE; BUT THE LIGHT RESEMBLED BEING LIT UP BY A SEARCHLIGHT FROM GND. AFTER MULLING OVER WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL MINS; I CONTACTED ZDV TO ASK IF THEY HAD ANY UNUSUAL RPT OR SIGHTING OF THE PHENOMENON. SEVERAL ACR ACFT IN THE VICINITY RPTED A METEOR OR SPACE OBJECT HAD PASSED THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE AND ENTERED CLOUDS IN OUR VICINITY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY DOCUMENTATION OF OTHER EVENTS SUCH AS THIS. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT CAPT SAFETY CHAIRMAN. THERE WERE 3 WITNESSES IN THE COCKPIT -- 2 PLTS AND A FLT ATTENDANT. WHEN WE DEPLANED AT SLC; I HAD SEVERAL INQUIRIES FROM PAX. I EXPLAINED IT WAS LIGHTING FROM A RARE WINTER TSTM. INCIDENTALLY; THE CIRRUS WAS VERY THIN AND WE COULD SEE GND LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO TSTMS AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE CIRRUS ACTED AS A REFLECTOR CAUSING THE LIGHT TO APPEAR BELOW US. I BELIEVE THE OBJECT CAME CLOSE TO US AND BEHIND.