UFO sighted in Maryland in 1961

Summary

In September 1961, a witness in Gaithersburg, Maryland, observed an aerial object described as bright as Venus, with a color between white and orange. The object appeared as an oval-shaped comet without a tail and moved toward the southeast while descending. The sighting lasted between half a minute and two minutes, and the witness compared it to the bright underside of a jet aircraft. Although initially intriguing, investigators concluded it was likely a plane, as there was no evidence of anything different.

The object was seen in the afternoon, during a time when the sky was clear and bright. The witness, who was walking in his backyard, noted that the object had no tail or smoke trail, and its oval shape made it look different from a comet. Despite detailed descriptions, there were no photographs or other witnesses to confirm the sighting. The only plausible explanation offered by investigators was that it was a jet aircraft, whose movement and appearance could have misled the observer.