Sighting of a flying object in New York in 1961

Summary

In September 1961, an observer in New York spotted an object with an orange cloud and a faint yellow light. The object was moving northeast and was visible for 30 seconds before disappearing behind buildings. Although initially considered a balloon or astronomical phenomenon, the data indicated it was a controlled aircraft. The speed and estimated altitude matched a jet plane, leading to the conclusion that it was an aircraft sighting.

The information reached the U.S. Air Force through an unclassified message. It was evaluated that the object was not a balloon or natural phenomenon, and it was concluded to be an aircraft. The observer's description, along with the duration and trajectory of the sighting, supported this interpretation. Despite the lack of photos or sound, the available data was enough to rule out other explanations.