Professor's luminous sphere over Sassari
On 27 August 1952 Professor G.B. Sias of Sassari, Sardinia, saw a brilliant green-blue, mother-of-pearl sphere larger than the full moon, streaked like metal, cross the sky from east to west at "dizzy speed" for 3 to 5 seconds, alternating between a sphere and a luminous ribbon. An orphan at his institute and a guard 3 km away also saw it. Vatican astronomer Fr Junkes estimated it at 1,000 to 1,700 km away and 9 to 15 km across. The US Air Attache in Rome, Lt Col Joseph A. Woida, interviewed the professor and remarked on his eagerness; the report draws no conclusion.
How plausible · Moderate
A named professor, with two further witnesses at separate places, describes a large luminous sphere crossing fast; it was interviewed at attache level, but the event was brief and the attache noted his eagerness.
- ●●Access Saw it himself.
- ●●Checkable details check out DOW-UAP-D157 is released.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named, reported to a foreign attache.
- ●○No gain sought Eager to be heard, per the attache.
- ●○Consistent over time Coherent account.
- ●○Character record University professor.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-24.
On the record
- IR-700-53, Air Attache Rome; the report's file name says 1953, the event is 1952.
- Three witnesses at two places.
- Astronomer's estimate: 1,000-1,700 km away, 9-15 km across.
- The professor's sketch is not included.