Project 10073 Record Card — Aiken, South Carolina, 5 November 1957

This document is a Project 10073 record card detailing a sighting that occurred on November 5, 1957, in Aiken, South Carolina. The primary witness, an instrument mechanic at the Savannah River Project, reported observing a cigar-shaped object at 1830 EST. The witness described the object as having the appearance of a pea at arm's length, initially bright white like neon light, which later changed to red and then amber. The object featured two bright white spots on its side and a long tail that appeared to consist of three blue streaks, which the witness interpreted as blue flames. The object remained stationary for the majority of the observation but exhibited darting movements. The witness reported no sound. The observation lasted for two distinct periods, with the second period involving the use of 5-power binoculars. The sighting gained enough local attention that the Augusta Chronicle reported on it, noting that the executive editor, Louis Harris, also observed a 'constant red light' from the downtown newspaper building. Military intelligence assessments, including a teletype message (SM-159) addressed to various Air Force commands, were generated in response. The official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the object was the planet Venus. The report notes that the observation occurred when twilight was ending and that the perceived 'radical movements' and the 'tail' were likely the result of reflection effects from high broken clouds and the exhaust of a jet aircraft in the vicinity. The document includes technical data such as wind reports from the Air Weather Service and references to aeronautical charts for the area.