PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Washington, D.C. 4 August 1954

On August 4, 1954, at 0010 EST, two civilian witnesses in Washington, D.C., observed an unidentified aerial object for approximately one and a half hours. The witnesses described the object as star-like, small, and roughly the size of a pea. When viewed through binoculars, the object appeared to have a cross-like shape and a bluish tint. The observers reported that the object exhibited little movement, though it would occasionally 'bob.' It was observed at a 30-degree angular elevation from the horizon, traveling from the south to the northwest in an arc with a slight loss in altitude. The object was described as gold in color as it disappeared. The sighting was reported under Project 10073. Official evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the object was the planet Mars, noting that Mars was setting at the time of the disappearance and its position in the sky corresponded with the reported location of the object throughout the duration of the sighting.