Project 10073 Record — Sighting Report, Baker, Oregon, 20 October 1965

This document contains a series of reports and correspondence regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on 20 October 1965 near Baker, Oregon. Multiple observers, including military personnel from the 821st Radar Squadron, reported seeing a round, multi-colored object that appeared larger than a normal star or planet. The object was described as having a short, intermittent white tail and remained in a fixed position relative to the constellations of Cassiopeia and the Great Bear for approximately one hour before moving 15 to 20 degrees to the northeast. Several observers, including a state trooper and military personnel, provided detailed accounts of the object's appearance and behavior. Despite the visual reports, no contact was made with the object on search or height radars. Photographic evidence, consisting of one negative and several prints, was submitted to the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for analysis. The subsequent evaluation by Major Quintanilla and photo interpreter Kinney concluded that the photography was of poor quality, making it difficult to distinguish between actual images and artifacts. The analysts noted that the traces appeared to pass through telephone wires and suggested the possibility of double-exposure. The official conclusion reached by the investigators was that the object was the star Capella, noting that the probability of this identification was strong given the similarity to other objects in the photographs and the lack of corroborating radar data.