Red Sphere in Oak Ridge

Mid June 1967 at approximately 1930 hours two friends and I were stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Scarborough Road and Bethel Valley Road in Oak Ridge, TN. Our vehicle faced in mostly an Eastern direction.  Directly behind us approximately, 1.5 miles was and remains the Y-12 National Defense Plant from which weapons grade Uranium is produced, stored and modified. Immediately to our right, approximately 5 to 6 miles distant was the ORNL (X-10) DOE facility. At our 10 – 11 O’clock position was a DOE animal research facility.
Continuing through the traffic light, the road took one past the animal research facility, to ones left, directly towards a fenced and locked gate (approx ¼ mile, behind which was a freshwater pumping station for the city), to an access road bearing left to a lake side recreational area called “Carbide Park.”  Built by Union Carbide for the use of its employees and families.
When at the traffic light the topography is such that the road bisects two ridges as one continues towards the access road to Carbide Park.  One ridge descended from the left, the other ascended from the right towards ORNL.  The ridge lines were uneven in height but were continuous and forested. At this time of night the sun was setting and just a small amount of twilight remained.  Atmospheric conditions were clear, no moon, and temperature of mid seventies.
While stopped, the driver of our car noticed something upon the apex of the ridge line located at approximately 1 O’clock relative to our vehicle.   He pointed it out and we all observed a stationary red sphere at the top of the ridge that ascended from the access road to the park.
We stopped talking and watched. In about 15 to 20 seconds the red sphere began moving, following the ridge line to our right, which would be from a southeasterly to south to southwesterly direction.  The sphere was moving slowly.  I would approximate Its speed about as fast as one would normally walk.  We had time to turn off the car, exit the vehicle, and observe the sphere while standing in the road.  No other traffic was on the road during this time.  It was quiet without critter noises one would associate with a summer night.  We watched this red sphere continue down the ridge line for approximately 10 – 12 minutes until it was no longer visible.
The sphere’s light was continuous, non-pulsating, and red similar to that of ones vehicles’ taillight. I approximate the size of the sphere to be that of a large beach ball.
Witness indicates that the date is approximate.  PD