Project 10073 Record Card — Rome, New York, 9 April 1956

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated analyst comments regarding a UFO sighting reported on 9 April 1956 at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. The primary witnesses, A/1C George Henery Lowman and A/3C John D. Commins, observed a round, orange-white light that appeared larger than a known star. The object was sighted at an azimuth of 330 degrees and an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet. The observation lasted for twenty-three minutes and was conducted using binoculars. The report notes that the object was also seen by two aircraft. The analyst, identified by the initials G.T.G., concluded that the sighting was a misinterpretation of the planet Venus. The analyst provided a detailed explanation, noting that Venus was prominent and bright at that time of year and was located at approximately 325 degrees azimuth. The report explains that observing stars or planets through binoculars can create an illusion of movement, and atmospheric conditions near the horizon can cause astronomical bodies to appear larger, brighter, and nearer than they actually are. The analyst further remarked that such phenomena are often confusing even to experienced pilots, and that the explanation is frequently unacceptable to them. The document includes teletype messages detailing the report and the subsequent analysis, confirming that the object was indeed the planet Venus.