Project 10073 Record Card — Rockville, Maryland, 27 June 1963

On June 27, 1963, a civilian witness in Rockville, Maryland, observed an unidentified aerial object in the twilight sky for approximately 30 minutes. The witness, who was outdoors at the time, described the object as white, silent, and approximately three times as bright as the star Arcturus. The witness initially suspected the object was a satellite, specifically comparing its size to an Echo-type balloon. Over the course of the observation, the object appeared to change its position relative to the moon, moving from 10 degrees to the right of the moon to 10 degrees to the left. The witness reported the object's motion as being toward the north. The official record card for Project 10073 notes that the duration and movement were inconsistent with a satellite, and the specific altitude and position in a small area ruled out conventional aircraft. Investigators considered the possibility of the object being a star or planet, noting that Mars was in the approximate vicinity, but dismissed this because the object's appearance and movement relative to the moon were inconsistent with celestial bodies. The final conclusion recorded on the card was 'Insufficient Data for Evaluation,' with a note suggesting a possible balloon sighting, though the lack of wind data prevented a definitive determination.