Correspondence regarding Project 10073 sighting in Palm Springs, California

This document collection centers on a sighting report from 1st Lt. John B. Greene, who observed a 'brilliant star' near the moon on August 31, 1957, in Palm Springs, California. Lt. Greene reported the object as being brighter than the moon and noted that it suddenly 'went out.' He subsequently contacted the Physical Science Laboratory at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh responded to Lt. Greene on September 16, 1957, explaining that the object was not an unknown phenomenon but rather the occultation of the planet Saturn by the moon. Tombaugh expressed surprise that an observer would not recognize this astronomical event, noting that the light's disappearance was consistent with the planet passing behind the dark side of the moon. The collection also includes a Project 10073 record card confirming this conclusion. Additionally, the document contains various clippings and reports provided by researcher Dr. Olavo Fontes regarding other sightings in Brazil, including reports from Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, which describe luminous objects and flying discs. These reports are presented alongside a list of sightings from September 1-17, 1957, which categorizes various incidents as aircraft, stars, meteors, or insufficient data. The correspondence highlights the role of professional astronomers, such as J. Allen Hynek and Clyde Tombaugh, in evaluating reports submitted to military and research projects during this period. The overall tone of the correspondence reflects a scientific effort to distinguish between genuine unidentified aerial phenomena and misidentified astronomical events.