[TXnMA]

From your original post, it must have been ~8:15 PM PDT when you first spotted the object. Am I correct in assuming that the sun had already set (on the ground) at your location by then?

I have seen many interesting aerial phenomena in the hour or two following sunset (when the earth is dark, but the upper atmosphere is still illuminated). For example, the huge, clear polyethylene research baloons that were launched here in TX, went from barely visible against the blue sky to as brilliant as a star. Then, as the sunlight passed through its "red sunset" atmospheric path, the baloon went from bright golden white to golden to coppery, and then, before vanishing, a brilliant fiery red. That is also the time when the beautiful "noctilucent clouds" are sometimes visible. It is also the time when short contrails can look like brilliant, colorful light-emitters against the darkening sky.

BTW, I am an avid, lifelong aircraft watcher. I grew up on the runway approaches to Ellington AFB near Houston (now used by NASA), and, before I got glasses, at one time was able to ID over 50 A/C types by sound alone. As a kid/teenager, I wore out several pairs of binocs (and trashed several screen doors) running outside to look at planes. ;-} I also served as A/C identification instructor for the Cold War-era "Ground Observer Corps".

I really wish I could have been there to observe (whatever you saw) with -- especially with a small telescope available!

My guess is that it may well have been military/experimental, and may have been making a descent/approach to some place like Nellis. (Or, even the mysterious "Groom Lake" (AKA "Area 51"]...)

If what you saw wasn't an ordinary, multi-engine aircraft with sun-illuminated short contrails, I expect it may well have been something like this:

As I said earlier, I'm convinced the US didn't give up the SR-71's capability -- without having something with faster, higher, and stealthier capabilities avalable...

Perhaps you just managed to be looking the right direction at the right time...

[Finny]

Sun had gone below the ridge on the other side of canyon, but would have still been up over the beach (some 25 miles southwest).

If it was like that aircraft in your picture, it was definitely like Gemini reentry where it was heating up surace and that was the flare we saw coming off the fuselage. As for illumation changes from setting sun -- it was self lit, husband says. The only illumation might have been point of bright light as it banked, and at that altitude might very well have been headed toward Nevada, husband says.

Love the fact that you trashed screen doors racing outside to see! We got a big kick out of that -- kindred spirit! Wow, also, impressed that you could identify by sound so many aircraft!

The dynamics of reflective light and setting sun are of great professional interest to my husband, as he must know them well in order to do his artwork, which consists primarily of military aircraft generally in dogfights! Explains why his eyes are so often skyward. He's even got me looking at cloud formations. *sigh* And it's a sad day when an innocent little woman like myself knows the difference between an ME 109 and a FW 190. I have been corrupted. But I STILL have lots and lots of shoes, so at least some semblance of my Inner Woman remains intact!