A luminous balloon over Danville Illinois

Summary

An amateur astronomer in Danville, Illinois, reported a luminous, opalescent object appearing about half as bright as Venus. The sighting occurred on April 26, 1962, while the observer used a 12.5-inch reflecting telescope to search for the Schiapparelli comet. The object was observed for three minutes, with an increasing elevation, and described as circular or spherical, though its depth could not be determined. The detailed description and behavior generated interest, but no photographs or radar data were available for confirmation.

The investigation concluded the object was likely a high-altitude observation balloon released in Peoria. Winds at 50,000 feet carried the balloon toward Danville around the time of the sighting. The balloon's light was also visible with increasing elevation, matching the observation. Although other witnesses confirmed the sighting, precise triangulation wasn't possible due to their proximity. Ultimately, the responsible officer considered the object a balloon and not an unexplained phenomenon.