Project 10073 Record — Moose Lake, Minnesota, 22 August 1967

On August 22, 1967, approximately 20 civilians observed a star-like object in the northern sky near the south end of Moose Lake, Minnesota. The observation lasted for over thirty minutes. Witnesses described the object as having red and green colors, appearing to change color as if by a slow-rotating beacon. The object was reported to be brighter than a star and exhibited slight movement side-to-side and up-and-down, though it remained in the same general spot throughout the duration of the sighting. The observers later reported seeing the same object in the same location for several nights and eventually concluded that the object was a star. The Air Force's Foreign Technology Division, specifically the Aerial Phenomena Branch, conducted an investigation into the report. They concluded that the witnesses had observed the star Capella, which was positioned at an azimuth of 15 degrees and an elevation of approximately 6 degrees at the time of the sighting. The Air Force noted that Capella's brightness frequently causes it to be misinterpreted as an unidentified flying object. The documentation includes correspondence from Colonel James C. Manatt to the observers, acknowledging their report and providing the official identification of the object.