Mount Kisko, New YorkOctober 1960

Unidentified

Summary

In October 1960, a resident of Mount Kisko, New York, observed a bright light moving across the night sky. The object appeared as bright as the planet Venus and moved in a wide arc from the southeast to the northwest, passing overhead at a low angle. The witness reported that the light moved through approximately 120 degrees of sky, traveling from a starting elevation of about 30 degrees above the horizon to a final elevation of about 3 degrees. No smoke or exhaust trail was visible. The object eventually faded into haze and disappeared from view.

The witness believed the object was a rocket or missile based on its motion and appearance. However, the Air Force analysis noted that the observation's characteristics did not conform to this explanation. According to the case file, if the object was traveling at high altitude, its speed would have exceeded the capabilities of operational aircraft at the time. The pattern of movement and disappearance also did not match the expected behavior of a rocket or missile.

Air Force investigators examined the sighting details and considered various explanations. The file indicates that the object's appearance as a bright light, its angular motion, and the absence of visible propulsion trails presented challenges to conventional identification. The case was evaluated by the Air Force using available information about weather conditions, the observer's location and reliability, and the technical characteristics described.

The Air Force concluded that the object remained unidentified. The full case file, comprising 13 scanned pages, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Mount Kisko, New York

Date of incident

October 1960

State / country

NY / US

Page count

13 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 40

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 13

View transcribed text

"
3
y
#
K
g Pe Pavan es SRR A ep tates ta. S————, S——
| 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
k - re . l YA Ion EL Di Now JX K 0 Woes Nolloon
b oes : D Probably Bolloan
p er rma EE EE EEE rv Ir E————— ~ Pasatile B &
3 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPZ OF D3SERVATION Ww Tressny Buisen
XX . g gv iveraf
Local coo SU —— 0 Cround-Vixual 0 Ground-Rodar Ll Was Ai craft &
i : 1 Probably Aircraft
1 CUT U ] 3 Ate \3 Pa ” 0 Possibly Aircraft
att LJ J thord Shh] ee AEB AR EI 1 AirVizsval D Air-Interaspt PRodar
Ts PLATA. ee eee ——————
3. PHOTOS hei 6b. SOUACE 0 Wos Astronomical
C Yas jw] Probably Astronomical
TX Ne Civilizn 0 Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF CASEAYATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE SE oT NR TR A | IRE Se
D.. Insufficient Dota fos. Evsluation
20 Seacc wads Che Fly {¥- Unknown "AU i /
oe — a |
10, DRIEE SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 111. COMMENTS
Round, brizht light as a bright star of the RagAZEA
X vitude of Venus, observed to move througn Object, if at altitude travelling at EiE:z
an arc of 120 degrees from the SE at 30 deg speeds above present operational a/c, |
ele ation to the NW. at 3 agrees ele ration, Ath nigh de seri OSA as I cket or 1es51le
LASS lo ove head, No io biglo@ie) trail noted . Yr = LO exe sive for } TT,
Coviect vanished into haze, Observer felt pattern does not conform to this con-
that object was a rocket or missile, Straigl clusion, Chservation near New ri
pe 3 a : , ; FR RR a BES ih abit Hats | Se f ; +f pe
O34 “ 1L £ . PINES VN ILE LR Li ile WALLY ' > p eo
| +h a : E m List 3 une x |
SE EA LR SR ES rn SRR a i be AN a A SE Te) EB Se Yo Jin ne Send seni revs ee A pian sd, risa) |
ATIC FORM 129 (REV 25 SEP 82)
’

/ 13

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28989572