PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - Sighting Report 23 August 1955

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated teletype report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed in Sacramento, California, on August 23, 1955. Three civilian witnesses—a 40-year-old carpenter, a 17-year-old student, and a 34-year-old housewife—reported observing a single object for approximately 45 seconds. The witnesses described the object as flat, egg-shaped, and amber in color, appearing to be the size of a pea held at arm's length. The object was first sighted in the south, moved toward the south-west, performed a 90-degree turn, and then proceeded directly overhead before climbing out of sight. The observers utilized binoculars during the sighting. The official military evaluation, conducted by the Air Technical Intelligence Center, suggested that the object was likely the exhaust or after-burner of a jet aircraft. The report notes that the amber color and the egg-shaped, flat appearance could be explained by the viewing angle of the jet exhaust gases. Furthermore, the duration of the sighting was deemed consistent with the time required for a jet to traverse the observed distance. The report is classified as unclassified and includes technical details regarding the observation conditions, such as the use of binoculars and the specific flight path of the object.