Queens, New YorkFebruary 1953

On February 23, 1953, between 0120 and 0125 (about 1:20 a.m.) Eastern time, a civilian man reported an unidentified light over Queens, New York. The case was investigated by the Office of Special Investigations. The witness was driving east in Bayside when he saw the light from the corner of his eye, stopped his car, got out, and watched it.

The object was described only as a round light, since no shape could be made out. It was an off yellow color with an orange tinge and was very bright, three or four times brighter than the star Polaris. It made no sound and left no trail. It moved horizontally in low, flat arcs, speeding up, slowing down, and seeming to hover, four or five times. It was about 40 to 45 degrees above the horizon, due east, and moved south through about a 60 degree arc. After about 12 seconds it instantly disappeared.

The man did not use glasses or any optical aid. He said the object did not look like aircraft or shooting stars he had seen before. There were no other known witnesses, no photos, and no physical evidence. The Air Force concluded the cause was astronomical, a meteor.