Chicago, Ill., December 1961December 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On December 26, 1961, a witness reported an object over Chicago, Illinois. The sighting was made at 2110 local time (9:10 p.m.) and lasted about 35 minutes. It was seen from a vacant lot at a street corner.

The object was orange and yellow and about half as bright as the moon. It was seen generally to the east. The witness reported 5 or 6 smaller objects around it. The object faded and grew brighter during the observation. The sky was clear with 15 mile visibility.

The Air Force record card lists this case as astronomical, a reflection of the moon and a bright star. The card states it was highly probable that the moon and the bright star Alpha Leonis (Regulus) were responsible for the sighting. Both bodies were just rising, and atmospheric refraction probably distorted them. The card notes there was an occultation of Regulus at that hour.

Reported location

Chicago, Ill., December 1961

Date of incident

December 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 44

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

i ; PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD )
] 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS Bi
1 0 Wos Bolloon
- 26 Dec 61 Chicago, RA re 0 Probably Bolleon
: eee —~—————=—————10 Possibly Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
1 2110 - Vi g DO Was Aircraft
i BY RRA A LE Re XK Ground- Visual O Ground-Radar 0 Probobly Aircraft
5 GMT 2 [0310 Lg 0 Air-Visual 0 Air-Intercept Rodar DO Possibly Aircraft
oa 5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
§ QO Yes 0 Probably Astronomicel
Sp ossibly Astronomical
1 Ber LEE CI aL Rofiaath on of coon and
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE D Other__Alln2 120.
§ { 0 Insufficient Deto for Evaluation
EE i : 0 Unknown
Be Ne Nee
: 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING BE COMMENTS
; An orange and yellow object 1/2 as bright as | Highly probable that moon zrni bright
: moon was observed generally to E of a Chicago | star Alpha Leo (Regulus) wars objacks
3 location at 2110 local, Object was reported | responsible for this sighting.
: 0 have 5-0 smaller objects around it. UFO | Astronomical bodies were juss rising
; alternately faded and grew brighter during { end Atmospheric refraction Trobably
3 cbservation. i distorted them and contribut=i +o
1 i j misidentification. At this hour <hare
| vas an occultation of Regulus.
|
| y
; i
RK ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
! \

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28995903