Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting Report, Dexter, Missouri, 30 June 1961

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding a UFO sighting reported by a civilian in Dexter, Missouri, on June 30, 1961. The witness, who was driving home with a companion at approximately 0215 hours, observed a star-like object that appeared blue-white and reddish-orange. The object was described as being round and slightly larger than Venus. The observation lasted for approximately two hours and thirty minutes. The witness reported that the object was low in the sky and moving south. The witness also noted that the object appeared to fade out and then reappear, which they initially thought might be due to someone turning a light on and off. The witness ruled out airplanes because the object remained in one position, and ruled out stars and planets due to the haze layer and the object's behavior. The official conclusion reached by the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center was that the object was likely the planet Venus, with its unusual appearance and apparent movement caused by atmospheric haze and cloud cover. The file includes the original correspondence from the witness to the Air Force, a follow-up letter from Major William T. Coleman, Jr. requesting more detailed information via an ATIC questionnaire, and the completed questionnaire forms provided by the witness. The witness also mentioned taking photographs of the object, though the record card indicates that the final evaluation was based on the provided descriptions and the assessment of the object as an astronomical phenomenon.