Eyes upturned, three boaters watched the sky with growing unease. A glowing object darted back and forth. Was it a drone? A rocket? A jet?
Not possible—the strange incident happened nearly three centuries before the first successful airplane took flight.
The 1639 account of the sighting comes from the diary of John Winthrop. He was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time. The diary entry describes an unusual sighting reported by the men. While they were rowing their boat through the Muddy River, they saw a lighted object. Winthrop wrote that the light would stand still and then shoot across the sky. Then, it changed shape into something that looked like a pig. The strange object remained visible for a few hours, shooting back and forth across a distance of about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers). Then, it mysteriously faded away—untraceable and unforgettable.
Once their attention returned to their task, the men were startled to discover they were now a mile (1.6 kilometers) upstream. They didn't remember rowing against the current, Winthrop wrote. That part isn't entirely unexplainable, though, as their boat could have been carried by wind or the tides. Or the men may have just been too fascinated by the sight above to notice their movement.
The boaters weren't the only witnesses to the puzzling oddity, according to Winthrop. He wrote that other people saw the same light afterward, in the same place.
Five years later, Winthrop recorded a report of another sighting. This time, the lights were "like the moon" rising from different places. Over and over, the lights joined and parted, he wrote. Sometimes they looked like flames, and other times they appeared to sparkle. It happened in the early evening, and several people witnessed the unusual sight.
Flying machines and special effects were only a fantasy at the time. Modern fireworks weren't invented until the 1830s. There's been some speculation that the sightings were caused by gas burning in the marshland. But others say that's not likely if the lights were shooting across the sky. So, what in the world were people seeing? For now, the truth may be out of reach, but even doubtful historians agree that Winthrop's report gave Boston a unique claim to fame. It's where the first unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings were reported in what's now the United States.
The sightings reported by Winthrop and others in 1639 and 1644 remain a mystery to this day. While some explanations have been offered, none have been able to fully explain the strange lights and objects witnessed in the sky.
Whether it was a natural phenomenon, an optical illusion, or something else entirely, the sightings remain a fascinating piece of history. And while UFO sightings are more commonly associated with the modern era, it's interesting to note that reports of unidentified flying objects have been around for centuries.
Perhaps one day, advances in science and technology will offer a clearer explanation for what was seen that day in 17th century Massachusetts. Until then, the sightings described by Winthrop and others will continue to be a curious and intriguing part of our history.
Based on the article, which of these is true about the first reported UFO sighting in the U.S.?
a. The first sighting sparkled like lights from the moon that were joined together.
B. The first sighting darted back and forth for several hours before fading away.
C. The first sighting was witnessed by men who were setting off fireworks.
D.The first sighting lasted only a few minutes and was dismissed as unimportant.
b. The first sighting darted back and forth for several hours before fading away.
Which is the closest antonym for the word fascinated, as it is used in the article?
astonished
bothered
calmed
bored
bored
Which passage from the article best supports the idea that the men in the boat were completely absorbed by what they saw?
A. Over and over, the lights joined and parted, he wrote. Sometimes they looked like flames.
B. Five years later, Winthrop recorded a report of another sighting. This time, the lights were "like the moon" rising from different places.
C. Once their attention returned to their task, the men were startled to discover they were now a mile (1.6 kilometers) upstream. They didn't remember rowing against the current.
D. It happened in the early evening, and several people witnessed the unusual sight.