Over Pennsylvania, November 1957November 1957

In November 1957, observers across Pennsylvania reported seeing bright lights in the night sky that the U.S. Air Force ultimately attributed to the aurora borealis, a natural atmospheric phenomenon also known as the northern lights. The file contains 70 pages of sighting reports, witness interviews, weather data, and official analysis.

Multiple witnesses across the state reported seeing reddish, amber, and sometimes greenish-white lights appearing in various parts of the sky. Some observers described the lights as moving or changing color. The sightings occurred on different dates throughout the month, with the brightest and most widely reported displays happening in early-to-mid November.

The Air Force investigated these reports by collecting witness testimony, consulting with astronomical experts, and reviewing weather conditions and radar data from the time of the sightings. Air Force officers and astronomers, including researchers from Cornell University, examined photographs and descriptions provided by observers. They noted the geographic spread of the sightings, the colors reported, the appearance of the lights as arcs or bands in the sky, and the behavior described by multiple witnesses.

Based on this investigation, the Air Force concluded that the November 1957 sightings over Pennsylvania were caused by aurora borealis activity. An aurora is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth's upper atmosphere. The scientific analysis in the file suggests that the atmospheric conditions in early November 1957 produced an unusually active and vivid display of the northern lights, visible even at Pennsylvania's latitude. The reports of bright arcs, color changes, and the scale of the display align with known characteristics of major auroral events.

The full case file, comprising 70 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.