Silver Springs, MarylandSeptember 1962

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the night of September 27, 1962, a 12-year-old boy in Silver Springs, Maryland observed two identical white objects in the sky while using a telescope to look at celestial bodies. The objects appeared at about 30 degrees above the eastern horizon, roughly the angle between the ground and chest height on someone looking up. They looked like white cotton and remained stationary throughout the sighting.

The boy watched the objects for about one minute before they disappeared by fading away. The telescope he was using at the time was stuck and would not move. The moon was visible in the sky during the observation.

The Air Force's investigation concluded that the sighting was likely an "after image" effect. This occurs when staring through a telescope at bright objects like celestial bodies. The eye can retain a temporary visual impression that appears to linger in the field of view. The report notes that the objects' stationary nature and gradual fading matched what would be expected from this optical phenomenon.

The case file contains 11 pages of investigation materials held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Silver Springs, Maryland

Date of incident

September 1962

State / country

MD / US

Page count

11 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 46

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 11

View transcribed text

oR RL BA
\ |
1. DATE - TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION :
27 Sept 62  28/0230Z Silver Springs, laryland |
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION |
IXEX Civilian AFTER IMAGE
fitness was 12 yr old youth, Double image leads to analysis as |
ostionsaichi asta possible after image effects of telescope observation. Fading
Le and stationary aspect in accord with this analysis.
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION |[11. SRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS be
1 Minute Two identical objects observed at 30 deg elevation in the East, |
appeared to be stationary. Did not move. Disappeared by fadfng
od ons dbbi White color like cotton. Observed during observation of
Ground-Visual (TX) celestial bodies with TX. Telescope was stuck and would not
mor il
7 COURSE move, Moon was out
Stationary :
8. PHOTOS
O Yes
ElNo
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
O Yes :
XKNo |
FORM
FTD sep 63 0-329 (TDE) Previous editions of this form may be used, : ;
Ty rmmmmTm———r— i ards »
Eo} 4 ¥

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28999344