Unidentified flying object seen as a ball of fire in Sacramento in 1965

Summary

In August 1965, a witness in Sacramento, California, reported an unidentified object resembling a silver ball of fire with a long vapor trail. The object was observed for four minutes, traveling northwest at an estimated altitude of 5,000 feet. The witness, a civilian, saw it from the lobby of the Clunie Hotel and noted that it produced no sound, making it even more unusual. The observation occurred at 05:43 hours, early in the morning, under clear weather conditions with no clouds.

The description of the object includes its spherical shape, size similar to a dollar coin, and an intense glow that made it stand out in the sky. Although no photos were taken and no physical evidence was found, the report details that the object disappeared over the northwest horizon. The lack of air traffic in the area and ideal weather conditions add credibility to the observation. The report concluded that the object was not a rocket launched from Vandenberg, leaving the case without a clear explanation.