An avid stargazer I was up early attempting to identify constellations. I spotted one of the "dippers" and was looking for the other when I spotted a slow moving light. I initially presumed that it was a helicopter due partly to the slow speed and partly due to the flight path. Once I realized that there was no sound, no flashing warning lights and that the speed was much lower than a helicopter I started watching for more detail. I estimate that it was directly over the Hudson River traveling from the south to the north until it passed the due east mark(picture a compass) At approximately 10 degrees past due east it stopped, turned on it's axis and started forward again headed NNW this time. The length of the pause was approx. 10-15 seconds. I lost sight of it as it passed behind tree branches and only caught a brief glimpse of it after that. I am outside at night, all different times of the night and early morning, every night. I am well acquainted with the various craft that ply the airways in this area. I have lived in this same home for 12 years and am drug/alcohol free. I have seen other unexplained things in the night sky but there was always a possible alternative explanation. Not this time, the light was in the forward third of the craft and the flat rear was illuminated by it as was the last third of the craft. The front and center were hidden in the glare of the light.