# A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.

> Most likely: A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4WYYW57H0/a-low-yield-atmospheric-nuclear-test-of-a-few-kilotons-near  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[1979 Vela incident](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident)[Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion)Answer

Answer · 1979 Vela incident

# A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.

A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface.

**Most likely** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Most likely** Its tests supported it: five pieces of evidence for, two against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Both bhangmeters' first pulses match those of known tests; the second-pulse difference has an instrumental cause.
- An explosion-like hydroacoustic signal from the same time and region.
- Short-lived fission products downwind of the site.

## What would rule it out

- Declassified bhangmeter or hydroacoustic data showing the signal could not be a burst, or the full air-sampling record showing no fission products anywhere downwind despite conditions that should have carried them.

## Evidence 5 for · 2 against

[Ascension hydrophones recorded an impulsive signal at 02:43 UTC on a bearing and path consistent with an…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4WZEG1TB9/ascension-hydrophones-recorded-an-impulsive-signal-at-02-43)

Supported

FOR

[Iodine-131 in thyroids of sheep slaughtered in Melbourne in October and November 1979, consistent with a…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4WZPA7CGD/iodine-131-in-thyroids-of-sheep-slaughtered-in-melbourne-in)

Suggestive

FOR

[Los Alamos and Sandia analysts judged the signal consistent with a low-yield atmospheric burst.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4WZY47GE3/los-alamos-and-sandia-analysts-judged-the-signal-consistent)

Supported

FOR

[The NSC recorded the Intelligence Community's high confidence in a low-yield explosion on 22 October 1979.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4X05Y3KBE/the-nsc-recorded-the-intelligence-communitys-high-confidence)

Suggestive

FOR

[The first pulses of both bhangmeters agree with each other and with earlier tests; the second-pulse…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4WZ6P3YE9/the-first-pulses-of-both-bhangmeters-agree-with-each-other)

Supported

FOR

[Defense Support Program satellites with overlapping coverage did not trigger.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4X0NJ0F0D/defense-support-program-satellites-with-overlapping-coverage)

Suggestive

AGAINST

[No fission debris was collected by AFTAC air sampling, and New Zealand rainwater data proved a false alarm.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/evidence/EVD0CW4X0DR74RH/no-fission-debris-was-collected-by-aftac-air-sampling-and)

Supported

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion)

Most likelyA low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). A low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface. [Answer ANS0CW4WYYW57H0]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CW4WYYW57H0
```

Key

**ANS** 0CW4WYYW57H0

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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