UFO seen in Illinois in 1955 identified as parhelia

Summary

A round and bright object was observed in Lomax, Illinois, on November 25, 1955. Witnesses described it as a ball with four cardinal points and a white and yellow glow. The object was descending slowly for 45 minutes. Despite photographs, no clear images were received. Eventually, investigators concluded it was an astronomical phenomenon known as parhelia, commonly called a "sun dog." This type of phenomenon is caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.