Project 10073 Record Card — Westerville, Ohio, 24 August 1956

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated teletype report regarding an unidentified aerial object sighting in Westerville, Ohio, on August 24, 1956. A civilian witness reported observing a round, red object that appeared to be the size of a basketball at arm's length, positioned very high above the trees. The object remained stationary for the duration of the 10-minute observation, during which time the light faded, and the object appeared to diminish to the size of a softball at arm's length. The report notes that the object was still in sight at the time the report was filed. The military investigation, conducted by 1st Lieutenant Edward Larson, concluded that the object was the planet Mars, citing its prominent visibility at that time and the stationary nature of the object. The teletype report, transmitted on August 27, 1956, confirms the details of the sighting and notes that a mission was in process at the time of the report. The weather conditions were reported as clear with broken clouds at 6,500 feet, 15 miles visibility, and calm winds.