Atlantic Ocean: Circle With Five Arms Observed From Bark

On March 22, 1870, at approximately 6:30 P.M., Captain Frederick William Banner of the American bark Lady of the Lake observed an unusual aerial phenomenon in the Atlantic Ocean at latitude 5.47°N and longitude 27.52°W, halfway between Senegal and Natal, Brazil. The object appeared as a circular, cloud-like formation with a semicircle and four arm-like appendages, moving northeast under clear conditions with northeasterly winds before disappearing.

The Incident

The vessel was positioned in the Atlantic Ocean during a period of increased maritime traffic.

Captain Banner noted the phenomenon under clear atmospheric conditions with northeasterly winds.

The object moved toward the northeast before vanishing from view.

Description

• Shape: Circular, cloud-like formation featuring a semicircle with four arm-like appendages extending from its body, forming a distinctive geometric configuration.
• Movement: Moved northeast.
• Duration: Brief observation.

Witness

Captain Frederick William Banner, a professional sea captain of the Lady of the Lake, maintained accurate navigational and observational records as was standard for maritime captains of the era.

His logs served as official documents of voyages.

Captains were trained observers responsible for detailed reporting of unusual phenomena.

Source and Documentation

The primary source is Captain Banner's extract from the log of the Lady of the Lake.

Published in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Account communicated to the Royal Meteorological Society by R. H. Scott, F.R.S..

Credibility

Publication in a respected journal indicates it met contemporary standards for scientific reporting.

Maritime observations were regularly submitted for documentation and analysis.

The journal's focus on meteorological phenomena suggests interpretation as such, rather than anomalous.

Limitations

• Brief duration of observation.
• Lack of corroborating witnesses from other vessels.
• Limited details in surviving records constrain analysis depth.

The geometric description—circular body with arm-like appendages—is difficult to reconcile with known atmospheric phenomena of the period, though possibly attributed to unusual cloud formations or optical effects.

This case represents a documented maritime observation submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal, providing evidence of how nineteenth-century mariners reported unusual atmospheric phenomena and the role of scientific institutions in recording such observations.