Brazil, July 1959July 1959

On the night of Monday, July 13, 1959, three professional astronomers in Rio de Janeiro watched an unusual object cross the sky through their telescope at the University of Brazil's observatory. Professor Luis Eduardo da Silva Machado, astronomer Mario Dias Ferreira, and Captain Sirio Vaz of the Technical School of the Army tracked the object from 10:10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. as it moved near the Alia constellation toward the Southern Cross before disappearing into the haze on the horizon.

The astronomers described the object as disk-shaped with a conical bulge in the center. Around this center, they saw a set of green lights arranged to form what looked like a Maltese cross, with six lights in each arm, totaling 24 points of green light. The object also shot out an orange-colored jet from one end, creating the impression to the naked eye that it had split in two. According to the witnesses, the disk was twice the size of the planet Venus and bright enough to see without optical aid. The green light stayed steady and did not twinkle like stars do. The astronomers were certain the object could not be confused with any known celestial body, balloon, weather probe, or rocket.

During the 20 minutes of observation, the object traveled 130 degrees across the sky. Because their measuring instruments had been stored away for the evening, the astronomers could not calculate how fast the object was moving. They noted no spinning motion, only forward movement. The speed of travel was so great that photography proved impossible. All three astronomers were unanimous in stating the object was at least 30 kilometers (roughly 19 miles) away from Earth.

The file notes this was the first time in the world that an observatory had officially observed and reported a flying disk sighting. The Brazilian Air Force was to receive a detailed written report from the astronomers. Additional newspaper clippings in the file indicate that similar objects were also sighted in Fortaleza, Ceara, around the same time, seen near an airport and confirmed by multiple witnesses and pilots. The Air Force evaluation recorded in the file is marked as unknown.

This case file is reproduced below in full as held by the National Archives, spanning 8 pages.