Fireball over Maine 1961

Summary

In February 1961, a witness in Union, Maine, observed a fireball as bright as burning magnesium. The object left no trail or smoke and moved in a flat trajectory from east to west. Though only briefly seen behind a barn, newspapers reported multiple sightings across Maine. The description matched that of a fireball, though its exact size and altitude could not be determined.

The Air Force logged the sighting as likely astronomical, but other possibilities were not ruled out. The weather was clear and stable, with cold temperatures, ideal conditions for celestial phenomena. Despite the witness being a former Air Force pilot, the final evaluation remained cautious, without a definitive conclusion.