Project 10073 Record Card — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 September 1959

This document details a UFO sighting report filed by a civilian in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 14 September 1959. The observer, an assistant director of a technical division with the U.S. Marine Corps, reported seeing a circular, glowing yellow-white object that appeared to be in or near the moon. The object was observed for approximately five to six minutes, during which time it reportedly moved in a wavering elliptical pattern. One hour later, the observer noted the object had changed color to blue-green and appeared to have shifted position relative to the moon. The report was processed by the New York Air Defense Sector and forwarded to the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. ATIC requested further clarification regarding the observer's claims, specifically questioning how the observer determined the object's movement and its relationship to the moon. Subsequent follow-up revealed that the observer was quite vague regarding the estimated distance the object moved, admitting that the 'fifty-foot' estimate was based on a comparison to a circle on the ground. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the object was the star Altair, and the perceived color changes and movement were likely the result of atmospheric conditions. The report includes various internal military communications, including teletype messages between the New York Air Defense Sector and ATIC, confirming the investigation process and the eventual identification of the object.