UFO sighted in New York and attributed to ECHO I

Summary

A 1964 report describes a bright object seen in New York, initially mistaken for the ECHO I satellite. An observer described it as a white star moving rapidly toward the zenith, stopping for several minutes, then continuing northward. The apparent stillness was attributed to an optical illusion caused by the observer's position. Later, ECHO I was observed at 11:01, confirming it was the same satellite. The initial confusion highlights how orbiting objects can be misinterpreted without precise data.

The official military response acknowledged that ECHO I passed over New York twice that night, explaining the apparent stoppage as a consequence of ground-based perspective. Although the initial report was corrected, the case illustrates the importance of astronomical data in resolving UFO sightings.