A silver disc with smoke over Albuquerque

Summary

In August 1955, a witness in Albuquerque, New Mexico, observed a round, silver object with a smoke trail moving northwest. The object remained stationary for a few minutes before slowly ascending. The sighting lasted 45 minutes, which was unusual in duration and behavior. A detailed report from the project at the time concluded that the object was likely a weather balloon launched from Kirtland Air Force Base. The description of the smoke was attributed to optical phenomena and the observer's suggestion. The balloon burst about an hour later, matching the length of the observation.