 |
Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 88: Jul-Aug 1993 |
|
| 
|
Un Oggetto Misterioso
April 22, 1966. Genova and Novi di Modena, Italy. We have just learned of this "mysterious object." Translation provided by P. Cortesi.
"Near the star Alfa Hydrae (see illustration) appeared a perfect bright sphere, about 5� apparent diameter; it became largest in a few seconds, then it grew thinner and appeared like a line. In 45 minutes, its brilliance diminished progressively, and it disappeared at the western horizon."From astronomical observations by some amateur astronomers were calculated the following data: The object's altitude was between 600 and 650 kilometers above the earth's surface; at its biggest dimension, the object was 95 kilometers wide; it was over the Mediterranean Sea, in a place between Algiers and the Balearic Islands.
"No astronomer was able to explain the phenomenon, and the university astronomical review Coelum denominated it 'un oggetto misterioso' (a mysterious object)."
(Anonymous; Coelum, 34:36, May-June 1966. Cr. P. Cortesi.)