UFO seen south of Midway Islands in 1960

Summary

In September 1960, a military crew observed a luminous object near the Midway Islands. The object, round or oval in shape, measured about six inches in diameter and emitted continuously changing red, green, and white lights. It moved rapidly from the water level before disappearing behind a cloud bank. The crew saw it for four minutes without detecting sound or a trail. Although initially mysterious, investigators concluded it was atmospheric refraction of the star Arcturus. This phenomenon can make stars appear bright, change color, and move in unusual ways, especially near the horizon.

The scientific explanation pointed to Arcturus, one of the brightest stars in the sky, whose light bends as it passes through Earth's atmosphere. This causes its image to appear to twinkle, change size, and move unexpectedly. The crew, despite being trained, couldn't identify the phenomenon at the time. This case is a classic example of how atmospheric conditions can mislead even experienced observers, leading them to report phenomena that actually have natural explanations.