Spherical UFO sighted over Austin in 1953

Summary

In January 1953, a civilian in Austin, Texas, reported a mysterious object rising rapidly into the clouds. The witness described a silvery sphere, 18 to 24 inches in diameter, roughly the size of the moon. It made no sound or exhaust trail and was estimated to travel at 500 to 750 miles per hour. The object moved in a straight line toward the southeast and disappeared above the horizon. Although the Air Force classified it as a probable balloon, the witness insisted it did not resemble any known aircraft.

The sighting occurred at 10:34 on January 14, under partly cloudy skies with excellent visibility. The witness, a school patrol officer, noted that even children identified it as a "flying saucer." While no physical evidence or photos were found, the report details weather conditions and local air traffic, including military aircraft nearby. The object's description—without wings or conventional features—remains intriguing to those studying unexplained aerial phenomena.