Green fireball, Las Vegas / Starvation Peak, New Mexico
12 December 1948 · Las Vegas, New Mexico
Summary
A table in the 17th District OSI summary lists a sighting on 12 December 1948 at 2102, 15 miles south of Las Vegas, New Mexico. The entry gives five observers, a very bright green ball moving east to west, a duration of 2.1 to 2.3 seconds, no sound, and magnitude -4. It records that the object broke into three or four small fragments and disappeared.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, a meteor expert who had observed the fireball himself, reported on 20 December 1948 that it was seen near Starvation Peak and by two observers within the Los Alamos reservation. His reduction of the paired observations put the path at about 25 miles, at 8 to 10 miles altitude, at 8 to 12 miles a second. He added that if the two groups had not seen the same points, the path could be 10 to 12 miles long. He concluded that the fireball was "definitely non-meteoric". He listed differences from meteors, including the horizontal path, low height, absence of noise and the green colour, which he compared to copper salts.
At a classified conference at Los Alamos on 16 February 1949, LaPaz described the Starvation Peak incident at about 9:02 p.m., lasting almost exactly two seconds. He said he used a stop watch and a transit within minutes. He compared its brightness to Venus at about magnitude minus 4. He said both his observations and those of others were single-station, which prevented a real path being determined. Dr. Bradbury said he did not feel the meteor explanation was ruled out. The document analysis lists no consensus.
LaPaz earlier suggested the December fireballs might belong to the Geminid shower, but said no green had been recorded among 414 earlier observations. A letter read at the conference raised a possible auroral reflection as a suggestion. A 1950 FBI note says a book mentioned that two Bureau agents saw saucers at Las Vegas on 12-8-48, a date that differs from the 12 December case date.
What the files say
“the writer remains of the opinion that the fireball of December 12 was definitely non-meteoric”
Page 76 →“Broke into 3 or 4 small fragments & disappeared”
Page 25 →“It was the so-called Starvation Peak incident on the night of December 12, 1948. Time of observation around 9:02 P.M., plus or minus 30 seconds.”
Page 3 →“Still don't feel that the meteor stuff is out.”
Page 25 →
Explanations in the record
What the documents themselves say the event was, as recorded. Not our assessment.
- LaPaz first considered that the December fireballs were bright Geminid meteors, but found no green colour in 414 earlier observations and concluded they were not. — Los Alamos conference on green fireball sightings (1949), page 11
- A letter read at the conference suggested the observers may have seen a reflection of northern lights displays, 'phenomena and not material'. — Los Alamos conference on green fireball sightings (1949), page 18
- Dr. Kaplan conjectured an artificial aurora-like effect producing yellowish-green light. — Los Alamos conference on green fireball sightings (1949), page 18
- LaPaz judged the fireball of 12 December definitely non-meteoric, on differences from typical meteors. — UAP sightings near Sandia Base, New Mexico (1948-1950), page 76
- Dr. Bradbury said he did not feel the meteor explanation was out. — Los Alamos conference on green fireball sightings (1949), page 25