Luminous Sphere Over the Iranian Horizon

Summary

A pilot describes a UFO sighting during an international flight near the USSR border. On June 17, 1966, at approximately 18,000 feet altitude, he observed a bright sphere that appeared three times larger than a full moon. The sphere suddenly appeared and remained on the horizon while the plane performed an approach maneuver. The pilot and another aircraft at a similar altitude also observed the phenomenon and discussed it. Over the next few minutes, the sphere grew in size and decreased in intensity, eventually filling much of the sky. The pilot could not identify the cause, though he considered theories such as a "false sun" or gases illuminated by the sun.

The observation occurred under ideal weather conditions with excellent visibility. The pilot, with over 20 years of flying experience, had never seen anything like it. Upon landing, he found the phenomenon was not visible from the ground, except in its final stages, likely due to the object's altitude and position. It was speculated that high mountains in the direction of the phenomenon might have obscured the sphere from ground view. Although no definitive conclusion was reached, the case remains an intriguing mystery in UFO history.