PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — 18 January 1956, North Platte, Nebraska

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype communications regarding a sighting reported on January 18, 1956, in North Platte, Nebraska. A civilian witness reported observing a single object for a duration of two hours. The witness described the object as being round in the middle with rods sticking out, approximately the size of a baseball, and silver in color. Additionally, the witness noted yellow and green colors emanating from the top of the object, and reported that it made no sound. Further details provided in the teletype report indicate the object was observed to be descending, moving at a slow speed toward the west, and appearing red on both ends with a bright center. The observation was made using binoculars. The military evaluation, conducted by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), concluded that the sighting was an astronomical event, specifically the planet Venus. The report notes that the duration, westward motion, and distorted appearance of the object were consistent with an astronomical body. The investigators calculated that Venus was positioned at 22h 10' with a magnitude of -3.4 at the time of the sighting, which they determined matched the characteristics reported by the witness. The documentation includes the original record card, a teletype message from the 78th AC&W Squadron in Omaha, and supplementary notes detailing the witness's observations.