Air Intelligence Information Report: Sighting of an Unidentified Object, 15 August 1953

On 15 August 1953, at approximately 2045 CST, a married couple traveling north on Highway 14, roughly 15 miles south of Janesville, Wisconsin, observed an unidentified object. The witnesses, identified as a 35-year-old woman and her 32-year-old husband, a graduate student and former 8th Air Force bombardier, reported seeing a strange, bright, reddish-colored light that resembled a light on a high tower. The object subsequently moved swiftly to the left and appeared to pass in front of their vehicle. During the observation, the object changed color from a bright white—accompanied by an 'explosion like effect' and a tail or trail—to an orange color, and finally back to its original reddish hue. The witnesses observed the object for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, until they reached the outskirts of Madison, Wisconsin. The witnesses noted that the object maintained a sharp, definite outline and appeared to be at an altitude of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Despite the clear sky, the object appeared brighter than the surrounding stars, which the witnesses described as dim and dull in comparison. The report was processed by the 52nd Air Defense Group at Truax Field and forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center. The official conclusion provided in the report identifies the object as the star Capella, citing its position relative to the horizon and azimuth at the time of the sighting.