DATETIME GROUP PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSION' Rome.New York & A/V 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION SightiDJI~ Woa Balloon Probably Balloon Po ul bl y Balloon XI"CroundVhuol 0 GroundRodor 0 Was Aircraft 0 Probably Aircraft ~lr-Yhuol 0 Air Intercept Radar D Po nl bl Y AI rcroft 6. SOURCe d'Xwos Aatronomlcol Venus 0 Probably Aakortomlcal NUMBER Ofl 03JECTS ' COURSE 0 I Oth'::----:::-- -1. LENGTH OP OBIERYATION twenty-three minutes one 10. IRII!P SUMMARY OP liGHTING One round light larger than known star, orange-white changed to orange with red light. Seen at an azimuth of 330 dgrs & an elevation of "4000" feet (ovidently low off horizon). Seen through binoculars and was also seen by two aircraft. ATIC FORM 329 (RBV 2t BBP 12) faded over 0 Insufficient Data for Evaluation 11. COMMENTS Concur with the opinion of the reporting officer that this sight~ ing was generated by the planet Venus. The same object which had been reported in this same area on the previous night. Ana17Bta C~uta: SubJeot& UFO S1sht1D8 Reportel b7 Gr1f't1S Al'B 1. A cbeok with aatro cbvta( empbaa1aea) and astro almenactahov the planet Venua almoa\ oo tbe hoztlsOD (aa obeel've4 th ground) at 0320 Zone (1<20 Local. Time). aD4 looate4 at approxJmate}7 325 des: (N'i b7 !f) azimuth\_ In ri.c1D1t~ 9~ couatell.attOD Taurua. ~ ~ ob~ "vve<l t"'o""' tha.r loco .l 't1. 2. i'h1.8 co1nc14ea ver7 wll vitli 1Dtarmat1oa g1ftn b7 all prlnolpila involved. The reported size (size ot a pea) also conclualooa that :lt vaa Venus. 3. VeDUI prond.Dent and veey bright during th1a es stated in report brighter th8D surrouD41ng stars. ot the )'aazt 4. Note: object vaa tor almoet one-halt hour with apparent little or no 5 Observing atars or planeta tlu-ouah binoculra haa often been a source ot 1ncona1atent data in that 1t gives the object an 1llus101l ot h1ell and od4 mareuftra, a fact not often know to many. (An attempt to ke.p a star ftxed in the center of a binocul.ar' f1elc1 ot. view will demoDstl'ate th1a. ) 6. Certain ~ric cODdi tiona can make an astronomical bod~ much l VIJIII' brighter ancl nearer when near the harton. Example: Under eucb con4i t1ou the mooa o:tten 5 times larger thaD vheu v1ew4 overheat. Thia et:tect 1s When ln the air ancl against a dark elc;y, &Del haw reauJ.ted in eome weird ettecta beius reported b7 pilota hav1q tbelzt gase t1xe4 OD the obJect Vbile fl71ns. A tew UFO re:parte d1.olo that pilota haft repo;rte4 that the object 1a JIO'V1ng aft7 ~ toward their auoraft. 7 Th1a hu otteD f"OWlel to be contua1q, even to ol4, expr1eneed pUota, eo' the u:pluaUOD 1a p~all7 unacceptable to them. Arq t~ the firs~ and without aclY&Dce notice, euch aa Aurora boreaJia, s'Und~., :f"'..reball, me~.eOI'ie s'h0'\lf!l"S llgbt.d balloons in ,j'Jt -stX'I!!IDW a.a :;~hown :f'roal our f11a c:an oe ~err con..~ing. 8. Conclua1oca: OD of a knon objf!ct ot tact observed ua4er c01ld1 ttone pro4\1C1ug unconventional aDCe SubJect: UFO Sighting Reported by Grif't1ng AFB 1. A check v1 th astro chart~ emphasizes) and astro almanacs show the planet Venus almost on the horizon (as observed trom the ground) at 0320 Zone Time (1020 Local Time), and located at approximately 325 degrees (NW by N) azimuth, In vicinity of constellation Taurus. 2. This coincides veey vell with information given by all principals involved. The reported size (size ot a pea) also supports conclusions that it was Venus. 3. Venus prominent and very bright during this time of the year ae stated in report brighter than surrounding stars. , 4. Note;object was observed for almost one-halt hour with apparent 11 ttle or no movement. 5 Observing stars or planets through binoculars has otten been a source or inconsistent data in that it gives the obJect an illusion ot movement, high speed and odd maneuvers, a tact not otten known to many. (An attempt to keep a star fixed in the center of a binoculars' tie ld of view will demonstrate this.) 6. Certain atmospheric conditions can make an astronomical body seem much larger, brighter and nearer when near the horizon. Example: Under such conditions the moon often appears 5 times larger than When viewed overhead. This effect is emphasized when observed in the air and against a dark sky, and have resulted in some weird effects being reported by p11ots having their gaze fixed on the object while flying. A few UFO reports disclose that pi1ots have reported that the object is moving away or towards tbeir aircraft. 7. This has often been found to be confusing, even to old, experteneed and the exp1anation is generally unacceptable to them. Any phenomena encountered tar . the first time and w1 thout advance notice such as Aurora tire balls, meteoric showers, lighted balloons in Jet streams, as shown ft!CD our files, can be very confusing. 8. Conc1usions: Misinterpretation ot a known object, Venus, by virtue of fact observed under oond1t1ons producing unconventional appearance.