Green Fireballs

A number of so-called Green Fireballs were reported in the skies of the southwestern United States, particularly New Mexico, beginning in late 1948. Such sightings worried some in the government, who noted that the reports were often made near to sensitive research and military installations, such as Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratory (then Sandia base). Furthermore, the strange green balls of light appeared suddenly and were seen many times per month near such New Mexico installations, but hardly anywhere else, quite unlike a natural phenomenon like meteors. They arguably remain some of the best-studied and most perplexing unidentified flying objects.

Related Topics:
United States - New Mexico - 1948 - Los Alamos - Sandia National Laboratory - Meteor - Unidentified flying object

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Meteor expert Lincoln La Paz headed much of the investigation into the fireballs, and quickly concluded the objects were artificial, perhaps secret Russian spy devices. But the green fireballs were seen by so many people of high repute, including LaPaz and scientists at Los Alamos, that everybody agreed they were real. Secret conferences were convened at Los Alamos to study the phenomenon and in Washington by the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. In December 1949, Project Twinkle, a network of observation and photographic stations was established but never fully implemented. It was discontinued two years later, with the official conclusion that the phenomenon was probably natural in origin. LaPaz and others never agreed.

Related Topics:
Lincoln La Paz - Air Force Scientific Advisory Board - Project Twinkle

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