Project 10073 Record Card — Alexandria, Virginia, 20 May 1959

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and supporting documentation regarding an aerial sighting reported on May 20, 1959, in Alexandria, Virginia. The witness, a male resident of Alexandria, contacted the Pentagon after observing a phenomenon at approximately 2310 hours. He described the object as comet-shaped, appearing to be about one-tenth the diameter of the moon. The object was first observed in the west and traveled toward the north-northwest, maintaining a course at 40 degrees above the horizon before breaking into smaller, separate parts. The witness noted the color changed from a brilliant orange-yellow to a greenish-blue white, and he observed a trailing tail of lesser brightness. The observation lasted approximately three seconds and was accompanied by no sound. The witness, who has a background in meteorology, stated that he had previously observed meteors and believed this event was the re-entry of an artificial satellite or a meteor. Major Smiley, the Staff Duty Officer at AFCIN, Hq USAF, confirmed that the witness was responsible and that his report was consistent with other sightings reported to Andrews Ops and local sheriff's offices at the same time. The official conclusion recorded on the project card is that the sighting was typical of a meteor entering the earth's atmosphere and exploding. The witness provided detailed responses to the ATIC form 16h questionnaire, noting that he had perfect vision and was observing from his yard in a residential section. He explicitly requested that his identity remain private and that there be no publicity regarding his report.