Sirius mistaken for UFO in 1966

Summary

In October 1966, three young airmen at Stewart Air Force Base in New York observed a round object emitting flashing colors for half an hour. The object appeared to move slowly over a base pond, sparking confusion and curiosity. However, the next day, an investigating officer concluded that the phenomenon was the star Sirius, one of the brightest in the night sky. The airmen, aged between 19 and 20, accurately described the star's characteristics, including its color and position.

The investigation confirmed that Sirius, located in a specific direction in the sky, can appear to emit multiple colors due to optical effects and the lack of reference points. The officer in charge, Captain Stephen Levine, concluded there was no evidence of an unidentified object, but rather a common astronomical observation. This case illustrates how natural phenomena can be misinterpreted as unexplained, especially under night conditions and without astronomical experience.