Conical meteor seen over San Jose

Summary

A witness in San Jose, California, reported a conical object about a quarter the size of the moon with a long green tail. The object appeared at 20 degrees above the horizon heading south and then moved toward the west, where it was seen at just 5 degrees above the horizon. The sighting lasted between 5 and 10 seconds before the object faded away. While it might initially seem unusual, investigators concluded it was likely an astronomical meteor. The object's description and trajectory align with typical characteristics of a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere.

The report, dated December 14, 1963, was classified under Project 10073 and categorized as an astronomical event. No photographs or radar data were involved, and the only account came from a civilian who observed it visually from the ground. Despite the brief sighting, the detailed description of the object and its movement allowed analysts to rule out other explanations such as balloons or aircraft. The final classification of the case was "Was Astronomical Meteor," indicating the report was filed without further investigation.