PUBLIC RELEASE SOURCE REVIEW · INDEPENDENT ANALYTIC CASE FILE
CASE FILE 62 / 237UAP00328

237UAP00328

Radar/correlation-focused public UAP report; score 52

NORMAL-OBJECT FAVORED
Report No.UAP-OM-62-237UAP00328DispositionNORMAL-OBJECT FAVORED
Primary Case237UAP00328Generated2026-05-20 18:32 UTC
Report Time2023-12-08T02:38:00+00:00Observer32.78975, -89.29462
Source Case IDs237UAP00328

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

237UAP00328 is assessed as normal-object favored because the available public evidence gives a case-specific ordinary-object candidate: strong ADS-B aircraft candidate N938NN B738 ad049a at 28.1 km, azimuth 148.0 deg, elevation 22.78 deg, 3.43 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
237UAP0032802:38 12/08/2023 Callsign: SWA498 Origin: ATLZME Operator: SWA Operator Type: Commercialtext extract present237UAP00328.pdf

3. Original Report Evidence

Primary excerpt used for matchingAircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while W bound at FL400, 35NM NW of MEI. The unknown phenomenon was lights moving at high rates of speed back and forth left to right, at approximately FL600. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.
Report time used2023-12-08T02:38:00+00:00
Observer coordinate used32.78975, -89.29462
Observer source basisaviation_offset:35NM NW of MEI (public text extract 237UAP00328)

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 considered19397Historical element rows19397
Above horizon at report minute1011At/above 10 deg464
Largest same-sky cluster464

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 30152118.1286.991041.56eastward, setting99025TH
NORAD 21466130.3781.441091.26eastward, setting75052FA
NORAD 29740159.2480.562471.7westward, rising99025AE
NORAD 18807214.1677.481022.82westward, setting87020AT
NORAD 44575307.3675.641478.97westward, setting93038H
NORAD 406421.4574.011080.45westward, setting66040BF
NORAD 23792337.6671.651492.42westward, rising96009F
NORAD 11109.8770.272841.55westward, setting59001A
NORAD 4121128.2569.95921.4westward, setting00055DQ
NORAD 45454286.0269.551289.59westward, setting20020AG
NORAD 17191108.4568.05541.14eastward, setting86097A
NORAD 1061930.2465.652103.13eastward, rising76067AT

5.5 Largest Sky Clusters

#CountAzimuth SpanElevation SpanMotion Labels
14640.05-358.82 deg10.02-86.99 degeastward, level, eastward, rising, eastward, setting, nearly fixed azimuth, rising, nearly fixed azimuth, 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 matched30
Top ownersCIS: 14, US: 12, PRC: 2, TBD: 1, UK: 1
Object typesDEBRIS: 15, PAYLOAD: 12, ROCKET BODY: 2, UNKNOWN: 1

5.7 Space-Track Metadata for Top Propagated Objects

NORADObject NameTypeOwnerLaunch DateDecay Date
30152FENGYUN 1C DEBDEBRISPRC1999-05-10n/a
21466DELTA 1 DEBDEBRISUS1975-06-12n/a
29740FENGYUN 1C DEBDEBRISPRC1999-05-10n/a
18807COSMOS 1823 DEBDEBRISCIS1987-02-202025-02-04
44575SL-14 DEBDEBRISCIS1993-06-24n/a
40642NIMBUS 2 DEBDEBRISUS1966-05-15n/a
23792COSMOS 2330PAYLOADCIS1996-02-19n/a
11VANGUARD 2PAYLOADUS1959-02-17n/a
41211NOAA 16 DEBDEBRISUS2000-09-21n/a
45454ONEWEB-0034PAYLOADUK2020-03-21n/a
17191COSMOS 1805PAYLOADCIS1986-12-10n/a
10619COSMOS 839 DEBDEBRISCIS1976-07-08n/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 1580.2 MiB; planes-readsb-prod-0 1582.1 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/2023/342/02/
GOES GLM lightning prefixhttps://noaa-goes16.s3.amazonaws.com/GLM-L2-LCFA/2023/342/02/

5.13 Nearest Weather-Airport Candidates

StationNameDistance kmCoordinate
KMEIKey Field / Meridian Regional Airport71.9032.33, -88.75
KNMMNaval Air Station Meridian / McCain Field74.1032.55, -88.55
KJANJackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport90.5032.31, -90.08
KGTRGolden Triangle Regional Airport98.4033.45, -88.59
KGWOGreenwood–Leflore Airport107.7033.50, -90.09

5.14 Nearest Radiosonde Stations

StationNameDistance kmCoordinate
USM00072235JACKSON/ALLEN C. THOMPSON FIEL90.3032.32, -90.08
USM00072230BIRMINGHAM; AL238.3033.18, -86.78
USM00072233SLIDELL/MUN. LA277.3030.34, -89.83
USM00072340LITTLE ROCK/ADAMS FLD; AR.356.0034.84, -92.26
USM00072221VALPARAISO/EGLIN AFB; FL.367.3030.48, -86.52

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
KMEI71.902023-12-08T02:58:00+00:0010.00CLR, M, M, M0.00 / 0.00KMEI 080258Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 04/02 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP210 I1000 I3/// T00390017 56002 $
KNMM74.102023-12-08T02:56:00+00:0010.00SCT25000, M, M, M160.00 / 3.00KNMM 080256Z 16003KT 10SM SCT250 07/02 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP221 T00670017 56001 $
KJAN90.502023-12-08T02:54:00+00:0010.00CLR, M, M, M160.00 / 6.00KJAN 080254Z 16006KT 10SM CLR 08/01 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP197 T00780011 58003

5.16 NOAA IGRA Radiosonde Wind Profile

Nearest sounding implies mean 0-12 km wind drift toward 301.6 deg at 5.5 m/s; a passive balloon could drift about 39.6 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
USM00072235JACKSON/ALLEN C. THOMPSON FIEL90.302023-12-08T00:00:00+00:00301.605.5039.6036.00 at 21152.00 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 window2023-12-08T01:23:00+00:00 to 2023-12-08T03:53:00+00:00Radius300.00 nmi
Trace files scanned39833Tracks 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 candidates9Plausible candidates48
Reporting-aircraft tracks excluded0Weak candidates90

5.19 Top ADS-B Candidate Tracks

AircraftStatusScoreMin dist kmNearest dt minAlt ftAzEl
N938NN B738 ad049astrong aircraft candidate82.5726.900.1639000148.0022.78
N27304 B38M a2b416strong aircraft candidate77.6122.700.0938000315.9026.51
N156AN A321 a0e086strong aircraft candidate74.0425.000.1235025207.7020.83
N822AW A319 ab385estrong aircraft candidate72.1912.200.073600083.8018.45
N994NN B738 ade2b8strong aircraft candidate69.9376.700.073700015.507.69
N123DW A321 a05f37strong aircraft candidate69.9133.400.1634000332.6015.45
N954AN B738 ad4390strong aircraft candidate67.1279.500.0237000351.807.69
N108DQ BCS1 a022c6strong aircraft candidate65.4065.000.0534000110.707.65

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 constraint2023-12-08T02:38:00+00:00Directly used in propagation; this is a hard filter, not descriptive context.
Location constraint32.78975, -89.29462Directly used as observer point for azimuth/elevation/range computation.
Count / patternnot explicitNo compact same-launch count match; retained for unresolved report features.
Motion languagemovingApparent 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-object237UAP00328 is assessed as normal-object favored because the available public evidence gives a case-specific ordinary-object candidate: strong ADS-B aircraft candidate N938NN B738 ad049a at 28.1 km, azimuth 148.0 deg, elevation 22.78 deg, 3.43 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

237UAP00328

SKYWATCH INCIDENT REPORT



PRIMARY CODE: UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON
Date: 02:38 12/08/2023                     Callsign: SWA498                          Origin: ATL
Status: Closed                             Aircraft: B737                            Destination: DAL
POD: DEN                                   Tail Number:                              New Destination:
Reporting Facility: ZME                    Operator: SWA                             Operator Type: Commercial
                                           Paged: YES                                MOR Init: YES
                                                                                     MOR ID: ZME-M-2023/12/07-0008




REMARKS

Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while W bound at FL400, 35NM NW of MEI. The unknown phenomenon was
lights moving at high rates of speed back and forth left to right, at approximately FL600. The UAP was not observed on ATC
facility radar system.




SKYWATCH INCIDENT REPORT | DATE: 2023-12-08T02:38 | 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": "2023-12-08T02:38:00+00:00",
  "source_excerpt": "Aircraft reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon while W bound at FL400, 35NM NW of MEI. The unknown phenomenon was lights moving at high rates of speed back and forth left to right, at approximately FL600. The UAP was not observed on ATC facility radar system.",
  "historical_starlink_element_rows": 19397,
  "observer": {
    "lat": 32.789754797734396,
    "lon": -89.29462411626946,
    "source": "aviation_offset:35NM NW of MEI (public text extract 237UAP00328)"
  },
  "case_id": "237UAP00328",
  "starlink_above_horizon_at_report_time": 1011,
  "starlink_catalog_ids_considered": 19397,
  "largest_same-sky_cluster_count": 464,
  "starlink_at_or_above_10_deg": 464,
  "top_starlinks": [
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 118.12,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 190.93,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 193.27,
      "element_age_hours": 0.72,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T01:54:46.598400+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 86.99,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 47.33,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 17.13,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 806.62,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 194.46,
      "ground_track_label": "SSW",
      "launch_date": "99025TH",
      "launch_designator": "99025TH",
      "name": "NORAD 30152",
      "norad_id": "30152",
      "range_km": 1041.56,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 32.5894,
      "subpoint_lon": -88.8531
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 130.37,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 185.99,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 191.34,
      "element_age_hours": 0.02,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T02:39:17.229312+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 81.44,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 46.18,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 17.66,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1084.06,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 195.09,
      "ground_track_label": "SSW",
      "launch_date": "75052FA",
      "launch_designator": "75052FA",
      "name": "NORAD 21466",
      "norad_id": "21466",
      "range_km": 1091.26,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 31.9735,
      "subpoint_lon": -88.1742
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 159.24,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 349.89,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 346.26,
      "element_age_hours": 11.75,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T14:23:08.250720+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 80.56,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 81.24,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 56.6,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 859.42,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 345.0,
      "ground_track_label": "NNW",
      "launch_date": "99025AE",
      "launch_designator": "99025AE",
      "name": "NORAD 29740",
      "norad_id": "29740",
      "range_km": 2471.7,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, rising",
      "subpoint_lat": 30.3162,
      "subpoint_lon": -88.2148
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 214.16,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 174.6,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 169.56,
      "element_age_hours": 0.03,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T02:39:52.764768+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 77.48,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 42.8,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 16.5,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 815.43,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 164.68,
      "ground_track_label": "SSE",
      "launch_date": "87020AT",
      "launch_designator": "87020AT",
      "name": "NORAD 18807",
      "norad_id": "18807",
      "range_km": 1022.82,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 31.3557,
      "subpoint_lon": -90.4252
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 307.36,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 200.83,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 185.02,
      "element_age_hours": 22.19,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-09T00:49:08.456160+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 75.64,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 64.56,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 32.35,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1416.02,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 175.07,
      "ground_track_label": "S",
      "launch_date": "93038H",
      "launch_designator": "93038H",
      "name": "NORAD 44575",
      "norad_id": "44575",
      "range_km": 1478.97,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.3998,
      "subpoint_lon": -91.8831
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 1.45,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 203.2,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 198.7,
      "element_age_hours": 22.42,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-09T01:03:05.602176+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 74.01,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 58.97,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 22.04,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1041.42,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 196.13,
      "ground_track_label": "SSW",
      "launch_date": "66040BF",
      "launch_designator": "66040BF",
      "name": "NORAD 40642",
      "norad_id": "40642",
      "range_km": 1080.45,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 35.0936,
      "subpoint_lon": -89.2234
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 337.66,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 195.52,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 181.02,
      "element_age_hours": 1.15,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T03:46:42.349440+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 71.65,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 73.18,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 36.7,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1416.96,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 174.82,
      "ground_track_label": "S",
      "launch_date": "96009F",
      "launch_designator": "96009F",
      "name": "NORAD 23792",
      "norad_id": "23792",
      "range_km": 1492.42,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, rising",
      "subpoint_lat": 35.98,
      "subpoint_lon": -90.9129
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 109.87,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 94.4,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 85.74,
      "element_age_hours": 0.5,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T02:07:51.541536+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 70.27,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 58.68,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 41.62,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 559.64,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 75.86,
      "ground_track_label": "ENE",
      "launch_date": "59001A",
      "launch_designator": "59001A",
      "name": "NORAD 11",
      "norad_id": "11",
      "range_km": 2841.55,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 30.5527,
      "subpoint_lon": -82.6893
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 28.25,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 356.23,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 350.81,
      "element_age_hours": 11.73,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T14:21:38.367936+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 69.95,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 34.3,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 10.49,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 834.87,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 346.43,
      "ground_track_label": "NNW",
      "launch_date": "00055DQ",
      "launch_designator": "00055DQ",
      "name": "NORAD 41211",
      "norad_id": "41211",
      "range_km": 921.4,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 34.9881,
      "subpoint_lon": -87.8535
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 286.02,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 213.13,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 195.53,
      "element_age_hours": 10.24,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T12:52:34.734432+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 69.55,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 52.84,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 23.8,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1223.77,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 181.39,
      "ground_track_label": "S",
      "launch_date": "20020AG",
      "launch_designator": "20020AG",
      "name": "NORAD 45454",
      "norad_id": "45454",
      "range_km": 1289.59,
      "sky_motion_label": "westward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 33.6697,
      "subpoint_lon": -93.2178
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 108.45,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 163.12,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 169.52,
      "element_age_hours": 0.93,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T03:33:56.924928+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 68.05,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 23.13,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 2.49,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 507.71,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 174.56,
      "ground_track_label": "S",
      "launch_date": "86097A",
      "launch_designator": "86097A",
      "name": "NORAD 17191",
      "norad_id": "17191",
      "range_km": 541.14,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, setting",
      "subpoint_lat": 32.2406,
      "subpoint_lon": -87.4074
    },
    {
      "azimuth_deg": 30.24,
      "azimuth_plus_2m_deg": 84.91,
      "azimuth_plus_5m_deg": 124.72,
      "element_age_hours": 0.1,
      "element_epoch": "2023-12-08T02:44:06.891360+00:00",
      "elevation_deg": 65.65,
      "elevation_plus_2m_deg": 67.12,
      "elevation_plus_5m_deg": 48.2,
      "epoch_altitude_km": 1014.51,
      "ground_track_bearing_deg": 152.83,
      "ground_track_label": "SSE",
      "launch_date": "76067AT",
      "launch_designator": "76067AT",
      "name": "NORAD 10619",
      "norad_id": "10619",
      "range_km": 2103.13,
      "sky_motion_label": "eastward, rising",
      "subpoint_lat": 37.9021,
      "subpoint_lon": -85.4929
    }
  ],
  "adsb_lol_a

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: 237UAP00328
Time and observer coordinateextracted2023-12-08T02:38:00+00:00 at 32.78975, -89.29462
Orbital object propagationscreenedpublic LEO catalog objects
Space-Track SATCAT metadatascreened30 NORAD IDs checked; 30 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 layerscreened39833 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. 237UAP00328.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-615/493468575/237UAP00328.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/