1963 04 9317166 Hawthorne Nevada

Summary

On April 23, 1963, a witness in Hawthorne, Nevada, reported seeing a bright, fireball-like object moving in an arc from east to west. The object emitted a buzzing sound and descended from about 30 degrees elevation to 10 degrees, lighting up the area for 3 to 5 seconds. While a meteor was considered, other explanations like a balloon or aircraft were also possible. The observation was brief and no photos were taken, making a definitive assessment difficult.

The authorities classified the event as possibly astronomical, but other options were not ruled out. The report, though concise, reflects the typical uncertainty of UFO cases from that era, where observations often lacked sufficient data for a clear conclusion.