A bright object identified as Venus

Summary

In August 1956, an observer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, spotted a round, very bright object that appeared the size of a silver dollar at arm's length. The object's brightness varied and it moved in a bouncy manner. It was seen for about four minutes and was still visible when the observer went to bed. Initially unidentified, the object was later confirmed to be the planet Venus shining through a temperature inversion in the atmosphere.

This sighting was not the first from the observer, as a similar event had been reported on August 14 of the same year. After contacting the source by phone, it was confirmed that the object was not a balloon, aircraft, or unknown astronomical phenomenon, but Venus, visible due to specific atmospheric conditions. Although the case seemed mysterious at first, the final explanation turned out to be quite common, though no less interesting.