UFO sighted over Washington D.C. in 1954

Summary

On the early morning of August 4, 1954, a civilian observer in Washington D.C. reported a bright, round object that appeared to have the intensity of the planet Venus. The object, described as blueish and occasionally bobbing, moved slowly from south to northwest across the sky. Through binoculars, it resembled a cross and left a streak of light. The sighting lasted one and a half hours, but the object disappeared quickly around 01:30. Observers could not determine its altitude or whether it was an astronomical phenomenon, though it was noted that Mars was setting in the same direction.

The official conclusion of the report indicated the object was likely Mars, though other possibilities were not ruled out. The report, part of Project 10073, did not include photographs and relied on visual observations from a civilian. Despite the prolonged duration of the sighting, there was not enough data to conclusively identify the object, leading to some ambiguity in the official evaluation.