Sphere over San Mateo, CA
A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.
The report, as filed
A spherical craft shot into the air from a large patch of intensely bright light.
Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center. Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
Ask for the records
What would the paper say?
For a dated, located U.S. sighting, FAA radar data and ATC communications are the records most likely to exist. Through Aletheca, the house instrument, anyone can commission the request — filed, chased, and published in the open, refusals included. The draft goes over already written: the records sought, and the date window they would live in.
Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2001-11-30 → 2001-12-17
From the same sky
Related entries
April 9, 2023 · 5:50 PM · CIRCLE
San Mateo, CA
Object appeared to be white in color and could be seen with the naked eye at very high altitude (relative to nearby aircraft). Once the object passed near high clouds it was obscured and could no longer be seen. Approximate time in sight: 10 minutes
April 20, 2021 · 6:02 AM · LIGHT
San Mateo, CA
Bright white light that zigzag then disappeared
October 5, 2018 · 8:00 PM · UNKNOWN
San Mateo, CA
Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD
July 27, 2016 · 9:30 PM · FIREBALL
San Mateo, CA
Chinese rocket re-entry. PD
July 4, 2015 · 9:25 PM · LIGHT
San Mateo, CA
Moving light much faster than that of an airplane. Spotted while looking for fireworks from our backyard. The light was speeding for around 45 secs to a minute before fading away with a flash. Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD
November 14, 2014 · 7:50 PM · OTHER
San Mateo, CA
My son and I witnessed a aircraft that looked like a flying scooter or motorcycle flying just above us, coming from the north towards the west as if it were taking the exit on the freeway but right above us just over the telephone poles even close to rooftops!! I said whoa! What was that...I need one of those so I can ride you on it over the freeway too so we don't have to wait it traffic… I thought for sure it was a something new that was used to transport faster a above traffic to get to an accident or emergency or respond to a child abduction or something serious…