PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Sighting Incident 26 July 1960, Monticello, Illinois

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype reports concerning a UFO sighting on July 26, 1960, in the vicinity of Monticello, Illinois. A 25-year-old housewife reported observing a crescent-shaped, reddish-orange object with a brilliant glow while traveling in an automobile on Highway 47. The witness, whose attention was directed to the sky by her seven-year-old daughter, described the object as remaining stationary for approximately 15 minutes before fading and disappearing. The object was estimated to be the size of a half-dollar held at arm's length and was observed at an 18-degree angle of elevation above the horizon. The reporting officer, who investigated the incident on July 28, 1960, concluded that the witness had actually observed the 1/4 moon through a haze layer or fleecy cloud. This atmospheric condition, combined with the observer's movement in a vehicle, likely caused the unusual appearance of the moon, which the witness described as having a brilliant orange glow and a crescent shape. The report includes meteorological data from Chanute AFB and Decatur, Illinois, to support the conclusion that atmospheric conditions were consistent with the witness's description of haze. The investigation determined that the sighting was astronomical in nature, specifically identifying the moon as the source of the phenomenon.