UFO photographed in Weymouth, Massachusetts

Summary

In June 1963, a UFO report in Weymouth, Massachusetts, drew attention due to a photograph allegedly capturing an unidentified object. A local photographer, Dick Pothier, captured an image during a night-long star exposure. The image showed an unusual pattern of lights, sparking controversy and various theories. Initially, it was thought to be a conventional aerial phenomenon, such as an airplane or balloon, but the nature of the lights and their behavior didn't fit common explanations.

The photograph was analyzed by several experts, including Stephen Putnam, a mechanical engineer and APRO member. Putnam concluded that the lights appeared to be mounted on a single object, suggesting a coherent structure. However, other experts, like astronomer Gerald Hawkins, expressed skepticism, noting there was no evidence of a solid object blocking star trails. Despite the doubts, the photograph generated interest in the UFO community and was published in the local Patriot-Ledger newspaper. The lack of a clear explanation and the inability to obtain further evidence left the case in a limbo between the mysterious and the conventional.