UFO photographed on the Moon in 1958

Summary

In May 1958, a photographer from Trenton, New Jersey, captured an image of the Moon showing a small, unidentifiable white speck. The subject, who had no experience in astrophotography, sent the photo to LIFE magazine, generating interest. However, after analyzing the negative, experts concluded the speck was not an aerial or astronomical object, but a defect in the photographic emulsion. This phenomenon, caused by grain crystallization on the film during development, was common and occurred in about one out of fifty photos. The investigation confirmed no other reports of objects on the Moon at that time, and the subject, who was unemployed, had no background in astronomy. The case was ultimately closed with no evidence of an unexplained phenomenon.