Expediente Número 681106 — Avistamiento de Fenómenos Extraños, Castellbisbal (Barcelona), 06 de Noviembre de 1968

This document file (Expediente 681106) details the investigation of an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported in Castellbisbal, Barcelona, on November 6, 1968. The primary witness, a local school teacher named Joaquín Ternés Alvarez, reported observing a luminous circular object at approximately 19:30 hours. According to the witness, the object was at an altitude of roughly 5,000 meters, moved intermittently, emitted beams of light similar to searchlights, and rotated in various positions. The observation lasted for 32 minutes before the object disappeared. The witness, who observed the phenomenon from an elevated position and later used binoculars, stated that he had never seen anything like it and could not identify the object, despite being aware of media reports regarding 'flying saucers.' The military authorities, specifically the Mando Operativo Aéreo, handled the report. Their internal assessment concluded that there was insufficient evidence to rule out the planet Venus as the source of the sighting. They noted that at the time of the observation, Venus was 10 degrees above the horizon, and atmospheric conditions, combined with the use of binoculars, could have caused the visual distortions described by the witness. The file also highlights that 1968 was a period of high social sensitivity in Spain regarding UFO reports, largely due to a balloon launch campaign conducted by the French space agency, CNES. The military correspondence indicates a desire to reassure the witness that the phenomenon was likely natural. The file concludes with an index of documents and internal memos regarding the administrative handling of the case, noting that no further formal investigation was conducted beyond the initial report and the suggested interview.