For days the news reported the comming of a meteror shower. At approximately 11:00 PM, my wife and I retired to the south lawn. Lying on lawn chairs facing skyward, the night sky was filled by hundreds of shooting stars; As the night wore on, the stars increased dramatically. My wife screamed, "Oh my God, the North Star is falling," looking in the direction her face was frozen, I sited what appeared to be a meteror blaseing through Earth's atmosphere; a tear drop trail of flame trailing behind. After entering Earth's atmosphere the glowing meteror landed at approximately 20,000' above Earth's surface, the glow dimmed, and the meteor began a slow desent, at what appeared to be 30-50 mile north of our position. Perhaps, above the remote area of Coperopolis, California. The meteor did not touch down, however it ignited several thousand acres of grass fires, in the range land around Coperopolis, which burned for weeks following the siteing. The meteror became what appeared to be the landing light of an approaching aircraft, flying staight ahead south, while sweaping east to west. At approximatelt 1-mile north of our position, my wife and I tossed all reason out the window, and agreed to remain still, as the UFO approached at approximately, 4-feet below our eve line, rising approximately 20' above the eve line. The craft passed at appoximately .5 to 1 mph, as it approached there was no sound, however, the earth shook erouptly. The approximately 200' craft passed slowly, at a snails pace. Approximately, 1/4-mile straight ahead south the craft arived over the Stansilaus river, at which time it bolted skyward, without a soud, at the speed of light. I recall thinking that the craft would be over Chicago within moments. (Professionals, former flight-line, El Toro.)