QuestionsIncident 88: the Hackensack disc, 3 August 1947Do the object's reported course, size and motion fit a small balloon drifting on that evening's wind?Answer
Answer · Incident 88: the Hackensack disc, 3 August 1947
Yes: within the error of a course rebuilt from landmarks days later
The object's size, steady straight motion and rate across the sky fit a small balloon drifting on the evening's wind, and its reported course lies within the error of a course reconstructed from street landmarks.
Where it stands
Still possibleOne piece of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- The reported course lies within about 60 degrees of the downwind direction.
What would rule it out
- The reported course differs from the downwind direction by more than 60 degrees, or upper-air winds near 200 m blew from the north or east.
Evidence 1 for · none against
Tested by 1 run
| Run | Measured | Result | Against | Decision | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run | course minus downwind (degrees) | -41.4 | 0 (moving exactly with the surface wind) | Within the ±60 degree band set for a landmark course; balloon not ruled out, not confirmed. |
The questions it answers
Open2 answers, none ahead
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). Yes: within the error of a course rebuilt from landmarks days later [Answer ANS0DFY7HBAXAND]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFY7HBAXAND
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0dfy7hbaxand,
title = {Yes: within the error of a course rebuilt from landmarks days later},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0DFY7HBAXAND},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFY7HBAXAND}
}