Blue Book file, Rivera and Heaphy (CUFOS)

fuselage subtends several resolution elements and the wings subtend several resolution elements. An object with a structured surface can usually be identified (either by the observer or by an analyst studying an accurate report by the observer) when there are 6-8 resolution elements along any major extension and several elements along any minor extension.

The requirements for typical visual detection, determination of object orientation, object class differentiation, and object identification, are of interest in analyzing this report because here we have a case of an object for which the angular size was sufficient that not only could the observers detect it, but they were also able to assign a general shape (circular or oval) with the naked eye. The ability to make this statement about its shape with the naked eye implies that the angular size of the object was such that it subtended at least two resolution elements in its major dimension. It probably subtended more, but two is sufficient to allow me to make the following point: with the binoculars the angular size was "amplified" by a factor of eight, meaning there were at least about 16 resolution elements across the major dimension of the object, many more than necessary for identification if identification were possible!