Intermittent golden light over Pittsburgh 1956

Summary

In December 1956, a chemistry instructor in Pittsburgh observed a golden light appearing and disappearing in the sky, perpendicular to the ground. The phenomenon lasted between 12 and 15 minutes, though clouds hindered full observation. Despite the area being heavily populated, no one else reported it. The Air Force classified it as possibly a searchlight, though no definitive explanation was found. The witness, considered a qualified technical observer, had no clear answer for what he saw.

The official Air Force report notes that control towers and radar units were contacted, but no unknown object was confirmed. Balloons, aircraft, and astronomical phenomena were all considered but ruled out. Finally, it was concluded that a distant searchlight might have been the cause, though this could not be verified. The case remains unsolved, like so many others in UFO history.