UFO sighted in the Pacific in 1962

Summary

In November 1962, an observer in flight spotted an object in the Pacific that behaved like a satellite. The object, with the brightness of a second magnitude star, appeared above the western horizon and remained visible for 13 minutes, rising to 30 degrees above the horizon while following a southeast course. Although no photos or radar data were obtained, military personnel assumed it was a satellite, though they could not confirm it. The lack of additional information and the inability to evaluate the case with certainty led to a request for more data from the aircraft that made the sighting.

This case was recorded in several military communications and was distributed to multiple agencies, including NORAD, PACAF, and the DIA. Although the possibility of a balloon or aircraft was considered, the final conclusion pointed to a satellite, albeit with an incomplete evaluation. The exact location of the sighting was 34°N, 176°25'W, a remote area of the Pacific, which further complicated the confirmation of the phenomenon.