PUBLIC RELEASE SOURCE REVIEW ยท INDEPENDENT ANALYTIC CASE FILE
CASE FILE 47 / 237UAP00340

237UAP00340

Radar/correlation-focused public UAP report; score 54

NORMAL-OBJECT FAVORED
Report No.UAP-OM-47-237UAP00340DispositionNORMAL-OBJECT FAVORED
Primary Case237UAP00340Generated2026-05-20 18:32 UTC
Report Time2024-01-20T02:35:00+00:00Observer33.74063, -80.03340
Source Case IDs237UAP00340

Abstract

This case file evaluates a reported UAP sighting against the available orbital-object layer. No compact same-launch group fully identifies the file by itself. The final disposition is assigned under a normal-object favored standard, where ordinary aerospace/orbital explanations are preferred when they reasonably fit the report.

This is a standalone independent analysis prepared from public-source records and public orbital datasets. It is not an official government determination, classification marking, or agency-authored report.

1. Executive Summary

237UAP00340 is assessed as normal-object favored because the available public evidence gives a case-specific ordinary-object candidate: strong ADS-B aircraft candidate N969AN B738 ad7da2 at 19.3 km, azimuth 112.6 deg, elevation 27.38 deg, 4.98 min from report. Dense satellite presence alone is not treated as causation in this packet.

1.1 Key Findings

1.2 Bottom Line

NORMAL-OBJECT FAVORED: A case-specific ordinary-object candidate exists from source language, orbital geometry, launch-object context, or compact trajectory grouping. Dense ordinary sky traffic alone is not treated as causation.

2. Source Control

The source-control table identifies the public report records reviewed for this case and lists public access links where available. The table is included so this PDF remains interpretable when distributed by itself.

Case IDReport Date FieldFacility / TitleText ExtractPublic PDF Link
237UAP0034002:35 01/20/2024 Callsign: ENY3914 Origin: LEXZME Operator: ENY Operator Type: Commercialtext extract present237UAP00340.pdf

3. Original Report Evidence

Primary excerpt used for matchingAircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the right side while W bound at 36,000 feet, 33 NM North of MKS. L/L coordinates 3605N/8851W. The unknown phenomenon was multiple lights in the distance, diming and light intensifying. The crew was unable to determine the distance/altitude. Observation was visually with no on board equipment being utilized for the sighting. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system. AWO notified.
Report time used2024-01-20T02:35:00+00:00
Observer coordinate used33.74063, -80.03340
Observer source basisaviation_offset:33 NM North of MKS (public text extract 237UAP00340)

4. Methodology

  1. Spacetime extraction. The report time and observer coordinate were extracted from the public text report and normalized to UTC. Aviation fixes/radials were resolved during earlier preprocessing where applicable.
  2. External object dataset. The object layer used historical Space-Track/TLE-derived public LEO catalog objects element rows. The analytic mode for this case is historical public LEO catalog objects element propagation and same-launch/designator sky grouping.
  3. Propagation. Orbital elements were propagated to the report minute and observer location. For launch-object checks, samples around the report minute were retained. For Starlink group checks, objects above the horizon were clustered by sky position and filtered for same-launch groupings.
  4. Comparison. The output was compared against the report's count of lights, direction cue, motion language, altitude/radar language, and whether the file itself already suggested a satellite explanation.
  5. Causation standard. Mere object presence above the horizon is treated as background context only. A normal-object disposition requires a case-specific causal fit, such as a named launch object, a compact same-launch trajectory group, or source language that directly supports that object class.
  6. Disposition assignment. Identified means a specific normal object fits the report spacetime and the hard reported features do not materially conflict. Normal-object favored means a case-specific ordinary aerospace/orbital candidate exists, but it is not a full named identification. Insufficient means the file is too thin to carry high anomaly value. High-value unresolved is used when radar, video, rapid maneuver, or multi-witness features remain after reasonable normal-object checks.

5. External Object Evidence

5.1 Search Volume and Density

This table is a screening layer only. Objects above the horizon show background opportunity; they do not establish causation unless a specific object or compact trajectory group matches the reported behavior.

public LEO catalog objects catalog IDs considered19370Historical element rows19370
Above horizon at report minute1070At/above 10 deg519
Largest same-sky cluster519

No compact same-launch/designator group survived the report threshold. In this condition, satellite density remains context only and cannot by itself resolve a report with hard features.

5.2 Same-Launch / Same-Designator Candidate Groups

#Launch DateCountAzimuth SpanElevation SpanMotion LabelsMembers
No same-launch group identified.

5.3 Primary Group Members

ObjectNORADLaunchAzElRange kmApparent MotionElement Age h
No members available.

5.4 Bright-Sky Context: Top public LEO catalog objects Objects by Elevation

ObjectAzElRange kmApparent MotionLaunch Date
NORAD 549216.9484.841198.92eastward, setting61015GJ
NORAD 18806306.2681.821473.74westward, setting87020AS
NORAD 48767280.1978.871225.05eastward, setting21045A
NORAD 10613202.0277.561447.72westward, setting76067AM
NORAD 45386351.9577.49561.29eastward, setting20019AC
NORAD 21957180.3176.581608.01westward, setting76067BV
NORAD 55093290.2376.45520.71eastward, setting23001CN
NORAD 9592332.3573.821516.11westward, setting76118E
NORAD 580605.6872.01587.63eastward, setting23158K
NORAD 3045322.7570.02798.15westward, setting99025AFQ
NORAD 40583171.6269.4839.81eastward, setting95015ES
NORAD 4973862.8969.22576.39westward, setting21115Q

5.5 Largest Sky Clusters

#CountAzimuth SpanElevation SpanMotion Labels
15191.48-359.65 deg10.0-84.84 degeastward, level, eastward, rising, eastward, setting, westward, level, westward, rising, westward, setting

5.6 Space-Track SATCAT Enrichment

Space-Track SATCAT metadata was pulled as a cached subset for NORAD catalog IDs appearing in this packet's evidence tables. This section adds owner/type/status context to the propagated object candidates.

Packet SATCAT subset rows5370Fetched2026-05-19T01:19:50+00:00
This case NORAD IDs checked30SATCAT rows matched29
Top ownersUS: 10, CIS: 8, PRC: 4, UK: 3, AUS: 1, GLOB: 1
Object typesPAYLOAD: 14, DEBRIS: 13, ROCKET BODY: 2

5.7 Space-Track Metadata for Top Propagated Objects

NORADObject NameTypeOwnerLaunch DateDecay Date
549THOR ABLESTAR DEBDEBRISUS1961-06-29n/a
18806COSMOS 1823 DEBDEBRISCIS1987-02-20n/a
48767ONEWEB-0211PAYLOADUK2021-05-28n/a
10613COSMOS 839 DEBDEBRISCIS1976-07-08n/a
45386STARLINK-1272PAYLOADUS2020-03-18n/a
21957COSMOS 839 DEB *DEBRISCIS1976-07-08n/a
55093HUYGENSPAYLOADNOR2023-01-03n/a
9592COSMOS 875PAYLOADCIS1976-12-07n/a
58060STARLINK-30558PAYLOADUS2023-10-13n/a
30453FENGYUN 1C DEBDEBRISPRC1999-05-10n/a
40583DMSP 5D-2 F13 DEBDEBRISUS1995-03-24n/a
49738STARLINK-3143PAYLOADUS2021-12-02n/a

5.9 NASA / NOAA / ADS-B Expansion Layer

NASA POWER/Horizons/DONKI batch context had not yet been written for this case at packet build time.

5.11 Free Source Availability and Remaining Work

LayerStatusCase-Specific Note
ADSB.lol historical release listingscreened/presentplanes-readsb-staging-0 1486.0 MiB; planes-readsb-prod-0 1486.0 MiB
ADSB tracks downloadednot yet exhaustedRequires targeted extraction from large daily history archives before claiming aircraft exhaustion.
NOAA GOES imagerynot yet exhaustedNeeded for cloud/lightning visual context.
NOAA GOES ABI/GLM manifestscreened/presentPublic S3 object availability for the report hour.
NOAA NEXRAD weather radarnot yet exhaustedWeather radar only; not ATC radar.
NOAA IGRA radiosondescreened/presentNeeded for balloon drift plausibility.
ASOS/METAR weather observationsscreened/presentNearest station surface observations around report time.

5.12 Weather, Imagery, and Balloon Query Plan

This plan identifies the concrete free sources needed for the next case-specific weather and balloon checks. These are not treated as completed exclusions until the data are downloaded and plotted.

GOES satelliteGOES16
GOES ABI prefixhttps://noaa-goes16.s3.amazonaws.com/ABI-L2-CMIPF/2024/020/02/
GOES GLM lightning prefixhttps://noaa-goes16.s3.amazonaws.com/GLM-L2-LCFA/2024/020/02/

5.13 Nearest Weather-Airport Candidates

StationNameDistance kmCoordinate
KSSCShaw Air Force Base47.9033.97, -80.47
KFLOFlorence Regional Airport57.1034.19, -79.72
KMMTMc Entire Joint National Guard Base73.7033.92, -80.80
KOGBOrangeburg Municipal Airport82.8033.46, -80.86
KCUBJim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport92.4033.97, -81.00

5.14 Nearest Radiosonde Stations

StationNameDistance kmCoordinate
USM00072208CHARLESTON/MUN.; SC.94.0032.90, -80.03
USM00072317GREENSBORO/G.-HIGH PT.; NC.262.3036.10, -79.94
USM00072305NEWPORT; NC.312.1034.78, -76.88
USM00072318BLACKSBURG; VA.386.6037.20, -80.41
USM00072206JACKSONVILLE/INTNL.; FL.394.7030.48, -81.70

5.15 ASOS/METAR Surface Weather Observations

surface visibility ranged 10-10 statute miles; no precipitation was reported in the retained observations; no low broken/overcast cloud ceiling was evident in the retained station observations. Surface ASOS/METAR observations describe airport-level weather and visibility; they do not by themselves prove conditions at the sighting altitude or line of sight.

StationDistance kmNearest obs UTCVis SMSkyWind deg/ktMETAR
KSSC47.902024-01-20T02:55:00+00:0010.00CLR, M, M, M330.00 / 5.00KSSC 200255Z AUTO 33005KT 10SM CLR 03/M10 A3014 RMK AO2 SLPNO T00281101 52031 $
KFLO57.102024-01-20T02:53:00+00:0010.00CLR, M, M, M330.00 / 7.00KFLO 200253Z 33007KT 10SM CLR 02/M08 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T00221078 51032
KMMT73.702024-01-20T02:55:00+00:0010.00CLR, M, M, M270.00 / 3.00KMMT 200255Z AUTO 27003KT 10SM CLR 02/M04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLPNO T00191040 52033 $

5.16 NOAA IGRA Radiosonde Wind Profile

Nearest sounding implies mean 0-12 km wind drift toward 327.6 deg at 22.17 m/s; a passive balloon could drift about 159.6 km in two hours under this crude layer-average model. Radiosonde winds are sparse station soundings; balloon drift remains approximate without launch time, ascent rate, object altitude, and exact line-of-sight bearing.

StationNameDistance kmSounding UTCMean drift bearingMean speed m/s2h drift kmMax wind
USM00072208CHARLESTON/MUN.; SC.94.002024-01-20T00:00:00+00:00327.6022.17159.6032.00 at 1408.00 m

5.17 NOAA GOES ABI/GLM Public File Manifest

GOES public S3 objects are listed for the report hour where available. This is an availability manifest, not yet a rendered satellite image.

SatelliteGOES16Bucketnoaa-goes16
ABI sample files12GLM sample files12

ABI sample objects:

GLM lightning sample objects:

5.18 ADSB.lol Historical Aircraft Track Extraction

This layer uses the downloaded ADSB.lol daily history archive to test actual aircraft tracks near the report coordinate and minute. It is not treated as a primary-radar substitute; it is a transponder/receiver-derived aircraft screen.

Archive window2024-01-20T01:20:00+00:00 to 2024-01-20T03:50:00+00:00Radius300.00 nmi
Trace files scanned30181Tracks retained1200
Support statusaircraft strong candidate presentBest-candidate noteordinary-object favored if the report's count, color, direction, and motion can be reconciled with the candidate track(s).
Strong candidates11Plausible candidates82
Reporting-aircraft tracks excluded3Weak candidates215

5.19 Top ADS-B Candidate Tracks

AircraftStatusScoreMin dist kmNearest dt minAlt ftAzEl
N969AN B738 ad7da2strong aircraft candidate83.5919.300.0233000112.6027.38
N167AN A321 a10bbcstrong aircraft candidate73.8558.800.133200090.308.04
N8762Q B38M ac0f4dstrong aircraft candidate73.6246.700.1537000145.7012.86
N8726H B38M ac00f6strong aircraft candidate71.1470.200.0341000285.708.97
N108DN A321 a022c4strong aircraft candidate70.2546.100.163400096.3010.97
N515VL A320 a675e8strong aircraft candidate68.6459.700.0237025108.609.71
N635JB A320 a85119strong aircraft candidate67.6558.900.0834000148.508.33
N446AV A320 a560fbstrong aircraft candidate67.582.100.1137025233.1013.77

6. Annotated Evidence Figure

Annotated orbital object figure
Generated figure copied from the local evidence-plot output. It is included as an analytic visualization, not as original sensor imagery.

7. Analytic Comparison

CriterionReport EvidenceAnalytic Treatment
Time constraint2024-01-20T02:35:00+00:00Directly used in propagation; this is a hard filter, not descriptive context.
Location constraint33.74063, -80.03340Directly used as observer point for azimuth/elevation/range computation.
Count / patternthree-object/light language presentNo compact same-launch count match; retained for unresolved report features.
Motion languagenot explicitApparent motion labels in the object table provide a plausible but not definitive comparison.
Radar / official checknot observed on ATC radarNo ATC radar return can be consistent with distant orbital objects or visual aircraft-light hypotheses, but it does not prove the match.
Analytic dispositionnormal-object237UAP00340 is assessed as normal-object favored because the available public evidence gives a case-specific ordinary-object candidate: strong ADS-B aircraft candidate N969AN B738 ad7da2 at 19.3 km, azimuth 112.6 deg, elevation 27.38 deg, 4.98 min from report. Dense satellite presence alone is not treated as causation in this packet.

8. Caveats, Limitations, and Collection Gaps

Appendix A. Public Report Text Extracts

237UAP00340

SKYWATCH INCIDENT REPORT



PRIMARY CODE: UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON
Date: 02:35 01/20/2024                       Callsign: ENY3914                            Origin: LEX
Status: Closed                               Aircraft: E170                               Destination: DFW
POD: DEN                                     Tail Number:                                 New Destination:
Reporting Facility: ZME                      Operator: ENY                                Operator Type: Commercial
                                                                                          Paged: YES




REMARKS

Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the right side while W bound at 36,000 feet, 33 NM North of MKS. L/L
coordinates 3605N/8851W. The unknown phenomenon was multiple lights in the distance, diming and light intensifying. The
crew was unable to determine the distance/altitude. Observation was visually with no on board equipment being utilized for the
sighting. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system. AWO notified.




SKYWATCH INCIDENT REPORT | DATE: 2024-01-20T02:35 | POD: DEN | PAGE 1 of 1

Appendix B. Computational Evidence Digest

This appendix preserves the principal computed values used in the assessment, shortened to the fields most relevant to audit and review.

{
  "report_time_utc": "2024-01-20T02:35:00+00:00",
  "source_excerpt": "Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon off the right side while W bound at 36,000 feet, 33 NM North of MKS. L/L coordinates 3605N/8851W. The unknown phenomenon was multiple lights in the distance, diming and light intensifying. The crew was unable to determine the distance/altitude. Observation was visually with no on board equipment being utilized for the sighting. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system. AWO notified.",
  "historical_starlink_element_rows": 19370,
  "observer": {
    "lat": 33.74063125198034,
    "lon": -80.03340148925781,
    "source": "aviation_offset:33 NM North of MKS (public text extract 237UAP00340)"
  },
  "case_id": "237UAP00340",
  "starlink_above_horizon_at_report_time": 1070,
  "starlink_catalog_ids_considered": 19370,
  "largest_same-sky_cluster_count": 519,
  "starlink_at_or_above_10_deg": 519,
  "top_starlinks": [
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 216.94,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 23.73,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 25.33,
      "element_age_hours": 1.92,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T04:30:04.262976+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 84.84,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 57.22,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 24.23,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 972.84,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 25.0,
      "ground_track_label": "NNE",
      "launch_date": "61015GJ",
      "launch_designator": "61015GJ",
      "name": "NORAD 549",
      "norad_id": "549",
      "range_km": 1198.92,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 33.0846,
      "subpoint_lon": -80.6187
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 306.26,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 175.36,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 168.67,
      "element_age_hours": 0.06,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T02:38:20.916384+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 81.82,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 64.29,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 32.39,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1464.46,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 163.76,
      "ground_track_label": "SSE",
      "launch_date": "87020AS",
      "launch_designator": "87020AS",
      "name": "NORAD 18806",
      "norad_id": "18806",
      "range_km": 1473.74,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.6405,
      "subpoint_lon": -81.5339
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 280.19,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 346.08,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 355.03,
      "element_age_hours": 10.78,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T13:21:49.502880+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 78.87,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 50.8,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 21.97,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1207.5,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 359.21,
      "ground_track_label": "N",
      "launch_date": "21045A",
      "launch_designator": "21045A",
      "name": "NORAD 48767",
      "norad_id": "48767",
      "range_km": 1225.05,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.0397,
      "subpoint_lon": -82.1541
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 202.02,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 28.41,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 27.32,
      "element_age_hours": 9.32,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T11:54:04.153824+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 77.56,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 68.79,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 31.34,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 876.92,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 25.41,
      "ground_track_label": "NNE",
      "launch_date": "76067AM",
      "launch_designator": "76067AM",
      "name": "NORAD 10613",
      "norad_id": "10613",
      "range_km": 1447.72,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 31.6049,
      "subpoint_lon": -81.0415
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 351.95,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 39.23,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 43.15,
      "element_age_hours": 4.58,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T07:09:37.017504+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 77.49,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 27.01,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 4.76,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 553.34,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 44.84,
      "ground_track_label": "NE",
      "launch_date": "20019AC",
      "launch_designator": "20019AC",
      "name": "NORAD 45386",
      "norad_id": "45386",
      "range_km": 561.29,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.7393,
      "subpoint_lon": -80.2046
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 180.31,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 44.23,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 31.39,
      "element_age_hours": 0.18,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T02:24:06.994080+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 76.58,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 72.91,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 42.5,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 834.7,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 25.42,
      "ground_track_label": "NNE",
      "launch_date": "76067BV",
      "launch_designator": "76067BV",
      "name": "NORAD 21957",
      "norad_id": "21957",
      "range_km": 1608.01,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 31.043,
      "subpoint_lon": -80.0505
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 290.23,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 342.89,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 346.96,
      "element_age_hours": 0.15,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T02:26:00.170304+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 76.45,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 23.92,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 2.69,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 504.76,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 348.29,
      "ground_track_label": "NNW",
      "launch_date": "23001CN",
      "launch_designator": "23001CN",
      "name": "NORAD 55093",
      "norad_id": "55093",
      "range_km": 520.71,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.0875,
      "subpoint_lon": -81.1823
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 332.35,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 177.03,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 168.42,
      "element_age_hours": 1.81,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T04:23:24.770976+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 73.82,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 73.35,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 37.52,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1443.17,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 163.93,
      "ground_track_label": "SSE",
      "launch_date": "76118E",
      "launch_designator": "76118E",
      "name": "NORAD 9592",
      "norad_id": "9592",
      "range_km": 1516.11,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 36.4692,
      "subpoint_lon": -81.8118
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 5.68,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 106.49,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 114.29,
      "element_age_hours": 1.05,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T03:38:09.739104+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 72.01,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 32.28,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 6.72,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 565.13,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 118.52,
      "ground_track_label": "ESE",
      "launch_date": "23158K",
      "launch_designator": "23158K",
      "name": "NORAD 58060",
      "norad_id": "58060",
      "range_km": 587.63,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 35.2367,
      "subpoint_lon": -79.8522
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 22.75,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 353.88,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 349.77,
      "element_age_hours": 5.0,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-19T21:34:50.320128+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 70.02,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 30.16,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 7.3,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 750.68,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 346.31,
      "ground_track_label": "NNW",
      "launch_date": "99025AFQ",
      "launch_designator": "99025AFQ",
      "name": "NORAD 30453",
      "norad_id": "30453",
      "range_km": 798.15,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 35.7627,
      "subpoint_lon": -78.9906
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 171.62,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 344.16,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 346.41,
      "element_age_hours": 3.49,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-19T23:05:48.994368+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 69.4,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 51.57,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 15.25,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 744.22,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 346.86,
      "ground_track_label": "NNW",
      "launch_date": "95015ES",
      "launch_designator": "95015ES",
      "name": "NORAD 40583",
      "norad_id": "40583",
      "range_km": 839.81,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 31.3951,
      "subpoint_lon": -79.6308
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 62.89,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 47.12,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 45.53,
      "element_age_hours": 0.2,
      "element_epoch": "2024-01-20T02:23:08.548800+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 69.22,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 23.32,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 3.36,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 545.54,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 44.41,
      "ground_track_label": "NE",
      "launch_date": "21115Q",
      "launch_designator": "21115Q",
      "name": "NORAD 49738",
      

Appendix C. Source Exhaustion Checklist

This checklist records which source layers were actually applied to this individual report. It separates checked evidence from unexhausted collection gaps so the disposition is auditable when the PDF is read alone.

Source LayerStatusCase-Specific Note
NARA public UAP/FAA reportreviewedSource IDs: 237UAP00340
Time and observer coordinateextracted2024-01-20T02:35:00+00:00 at 33.74063, -80.03340
Orbital object propagationscreenedpublic LEO catalog objects
Space-Track SATCAT metadatascreened30 NORAD IDs checked; 29 matched in local SATCAT subset
Launch-object/SupGP layernot applicablenot a launch-object case
NASA/JPL known small-body layernot selectedCAD/Horizons secondary screen included when this case had NEO-relevant timing/geometry
NASA POWER/Horizons/DONKI contextnot exhaustedHourly weather, sky geometry, and space-weather context where local JSON is present
Aircraft/ADS-B layerscreened30181 trace files scanned; 1200 tracks retained; aircraft strong candidate present
NOAA GOES imagery layernot exhaustedCloud/lightning imagery layer for the report hour
NOAA GOES ABI/GLM manifestscreenedPublic S3 object listing for the report hour
NOAA/NEXRAD weather radar layernot exhaustedWeather radar only; not ATC/primary radar
NOAA IGRA radiosonde layerscreenedBalloon drift plausibility layer
ASOS/METAR surface weatherscreenedNearest station visibility, cloud, wind, precipitation, and METAR observations
Weather/balloon source planplannedNearest weather-airport, GOES, and radiosonde queries are listed where local plan JSON is present
Final analytic dispositionnormal-object favoredPresence-only satellite density is context only; a stronger case-specific fit is required for normal-object disposition

References and Source Links

  1. National Archives and Records Administration. Records Related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps
  2. National Archives and Records Administration. Record Group 615: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection. https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps/rg-615
  3. National Archives and Records Administration. Bulk Downloads for Records Related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog/catalog-bulk-downloads/uap-bulk-download
  4. National Archives Catalog. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration Relating to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, National Archives Identifier 493468575. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468575
  5. National Archives direct digital object. 237UAP00340.pdf, FAA UAP report record copied from RG 615 bulk digital objects. https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-615/493468575/237UAP00340.pdf
  6. Hugging Face dataset. oxzoid/space-track-tle-history: historical TLE archive used for public LEO catalog objects screening. https://huggingface.co/datasets/oxzoid/space-track-tle-history
  7. Space-Track.org. Public source for the underlying U.S. Space Surveillance Network TLE distribution referenced by the historical TLE archive. https://www.space-track.org/
  8. Space-Track.org. API documentation for SATCAT and catalog metadata classes used for local enrichment. https://www.space-track.org/documentation#/api
  9. ADSB.lol. Interactive API documentation and OpenAPI definition. https://api.adsb.lol/docs
  10. ADSB.lol. Historical open-data release documentation. https://www.adsb.lol/docs/open-data/historical/
  11. OpenSky Network. REST API documentation. https://openskynetwork.github.io/opensky-api/rest.html
  12. OpenSky Network. Historical data via Trino documentation. https://openskynetwork.github.io/opensky-api/trino.html
  13. NASA GIBS. Global Imagery Browse Services API documentation. https://nasa-gibs.github.io/gibs-api-docs/
  14. NASA Earthdata. Common Metadata Repository search API documentation. https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/search/site/docs/search/api.html
  15. NOAA / AWS Open Data. GOES public dataset registry. https://registry.opendata.aws/noaa-goes/
  16. NOAA / AWS Open Data. NEXRAD public dataset registry. https://registry.opendata.aws/noaa-nexrad/
  17. NOAA NCEI. Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/weather-balloon/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive
  18. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. ASOS/AWOS/METAR data download service. https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/request/download.phtml
  19. CelesTrak. Spacetrack Report No. 3: Models for propagation of NORAD element sets. https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/spacetrk.pdf
  20. CelesTrak. Supplemental GP element sets documentation and current endpoint index. https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/