Around 10:30pm on new years eve we were outside grilling, then my buddy calls my attention to the treeline to the north. Many solid yellow/orange roundish lights all identical in size and brightness began slowly but steadily began appearing out of treeline in the sky . At first I thought that they were some kind of home made baloon lanterns that were caught in a light low jet stream. I began to think otherwise as I studied them further. the neighborhood was lively with people outside celebrating with fireworks and other outside activities as weather was very clear with very light clouds with nice seasonally cool temps. The stars were out and I would estimate the size of all these lights were about 3 or 4 times the size of the largerst stars out. Two or three sets of lights were arranged in a triangular formation and others were strung along solo following the same course.As I fixed my attention on them I noticed several features, 1)they were all moving the same rate of speed. 2) no blinking or twinkle or change in hue as they traversed from one end of the sky to other. 3) no sound emanating from them at all. 4)all total were 16 strung in a path about wide as my vertical hand raised arms length. 5) distance between first to last is toughest to estimate but they were at one point covering one end (obscured by treeline) to directly over us to a good portion of sky opposite end from initial direction. 6) everything about them was constant - speed, distance, course, formation, color, size, and brilliance. As they began go move furthest away, I noticed a slight changing of course or slowing down then a quick fading effect to disappearance. All 16 faded out/dissapeared at about the same point. I am still wondering how to explain to myself what these were and how large they could have been. i would estimate though minimally between the size of a large bus and a small house, maybe larger. And as for altitude i would best guess 4000-10000 ft. due to clarity of seen lights.