Project 10073 Record — Joppatowne, Maryland, 22 April 1969

This document details a photo analysis report conducted by the U.S. Air Force's Aerial Phenomena Office regarding a sighting in Joppatowne, Maryland, on April 22, 1969. A 14-year-old witness, interested in astronomy, submitted a negative to the Air Force after discovering 'three strange things' in a photograph of the moon. The witness had captured the image by holding a 620 box camera up to the eyepiece of a 60mm telescope with a 700mm focal length. The Air Force initiated a formal photo analysis under Work Order 69-108. The resulting analysis, dated November 19, 1969, concluded that the image was of poor quality due to the optics used. The analysts determined that the anomalies appearing on the negative were most likely a combination of debris and internal reflections within the optical system. They noted that the resolution of the negative was insufficient to permit a specific identification of the objects. The report was signed by intelligence research specialists and photographic technologists, and approved by the Chief of the Photo Exploitation Division. Correspondence included in the file indicates that the Air Force returned the photo-print to the witness along with selected Project Blue Book case summaries, and noted that the original negative was lost shortly after the analysis was completed.