Project 10073 Record Card — Port Arthur, Canada, 5 November 1957

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype report detailing an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting that occurred on 5 November 1957 in Port Arthur, Canada. The sighting was observed by at least 40 officers and airmen of the local unit, as well as members of the local populace. The object was described as an oval-shaped entity, estimated to be 20 times the size of Polaris. Witnesses reported that the object appeared bright white, occasionally changing to light orange and red, and possessed a scaly appearance with a dark spot that rotated slowly in a counter-clockwise direction. The object was surrounded by a bright haze. The duration of the observation was one hour and 33 minutes, during which the object moved in a westerly direction. Despite the significant number of witnesses, no photographs were taken, and the object could not be detected by radar, which was noted as confirming its extreme altitude. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the object was the planet Venus. This determination was based on the fact that the elevations and azimuths of the object matched the calculated position and movement of Venus at that time. Investigators confirmed this using astronomical charts, computers, and current astronomical journals. The report notes that while the object was initially mistaken for a bright star, its steady movement of one degree every five minutes led observers to believe it was not a satellite. The report also addresses the possibility of a balloon with a flare, but dismisses this due to adverse wind conditions at the time of the sighting.