Lincoln LaPaz
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 👤 Person
Contents 4
| Type | Person |
|---|---|
| Also known as | LaPaz |
| On the Timeline | 2 events, 1951–1952 |
Lincoln LaPaz (1897–1985) was an American astronomer and mathematician who founded and directed the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico, and was one of the leading meteor scientists of his time. He is known in UFO history for investigating the green fireballs over New Mexico in 1948–1951.[1][2]
Career
LaPaz built a reputation for locating meteorites by analysing eyewitness reports of fireballs, and his institute in Albuquerque became a centre for meteorite research. His expertise made him the scientist officials turned to when unusual lights appeared over New Mexico's atomic sites.[1]
The green fireballs
On 12 December 1948 LaPaz observed one of the green fireballs himself. He concluded that the object was not a conventional meteorite fall: the fireballs were an unusually pure green, travelled on flat paths, were silent and left no fragments that could be found. With many sightings near Los Alamos, Sandia and other weapons installations, he suspected they might be artificial devices.[2][3]
His concerns contributed to a February 1949 conference at Los Alamos, attended by Edward Teller and members of the Air Force's Project Sign, and to the creation of Project Twinkle in December 1949 to photograph the lights. The project obtained little data and was closed with the view that the fireballs were probably natural. LaPaz was also reportedly consulted by the military in connection with other 1940s events in New Mexico.[2][4]
On the UAP Timeline
- Anthony Mirarchi's challenge to the balloon explanation (27 February 1951) — The head of Project Twinkle tells reporters the Navy is misleading the public and real UAP show controlled motion.
- Project Twinkle kept classified (1952) (19 February 1952) — The Air Force's science advisers recommend keeping Project Twinkle, a UAP study at atomic sites, classified.
References
- Lincoln LaPaz — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- Green fireballs — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy
- "Green Fireball Chronology" — Project 1947 · project1947.com · archived copy
- Project Twinkle final report — Project 1947 · project1947.com · archived copy
This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
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