Weather balloon seen in Altadena in 1962

Summary

In October 1962, several witnesses in Altadena, California, observed a shiny white object rapidly ascending in the sky. The classified report suggests it was a weather balloon launched in Santa Monica. Observers noted the object had no tail or noise, and its rapid ascent was explained by updrafts caused by nearby mountain ridges. Although initially uncertain, meteorological data and the launch location support the conclusion it was a balloon. Confusion was common back then, as UFOs were often mistaken for ordinary objects.