Chicago, IllinoisJune 1963

In June 1963, a young observer in Chicago watched the moon through a telescope and saw something unexpected: approximately twenty or more small dots crossing in front of the moon. This happened not just once, but four times during a five-minute period. The observer reported the sighting months later, in May 1964, after the well-known Socorro, New Mexico UFO incident received widespread publicity.

The Air Force's investigation of this case drew on expertise beyond the military. The Adler Planetarium in Chicago, a major astronomical institution, offered an explanation for what the observer had seen. According to the planetarium's analysis, the dots were likely caused by atmospheric conditions at the time of the observation. The case file notes this as a possible explanation alongside another possibility: the objects could have been birds or other debris passing between the observer and the moon, creating the illusion of movement across the lunar surface when viewed through the telescope.

Ultimately, the Air Force evaluated the sighting as unidentified, though they concluded it was probably due to atmospheric conditions, based on the Adler Planetarium's assessment. The case reflects how even trained observers can perceive unusual phenomena when viewing celestial objects, and how optical effects and ordinary objects can create striking visual impressions under the right circumstances.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 10 pages.