Orange fireball over Hollywood Hills in 1965

Summary

In August 1965, a witness in the Hollywood Hills observed an orange fireball crossing the horizon from the Moon. The object was seen for two minutes through a telescope and showed no changes in direction or shape. Initially thought to be a meteor, its speed was too slow for one. Investigators concluded it was likely a piece of space debris reentering Earth's atmosphere.

The official report, part of Project 10073, noted no major objects reentered at that time. However, smaller components of so-called "space junk" are not always tracked. The witness's description matched the reentry of one of these minor fragments. Although no photos or physical evidence were collected, the testimony was consistent with known phenomena.