UFO sighted in Westerville Ohio in 1956

Summary

A witness in Westerville, Ohio, observed a round object the size of a basketball in the night sky on August 25, 1956. The object appeared as a red light high above the trees and remained stationary for at least ten minutes. As the light faded, the object shrank in size until it looked like a softball at arm's length. The description and the object's stillness led investigators to conclude it was likely Mars, which was particularly prominent at that time of year. Although the initial report suggested the possibility of a jet aircraft, the final evaluation pointed to an astronomical explanation.

The report, part of Project 10073, did not include exact positional data, but it noted that the color and behavior of the object matched the characteristics of Mars. The responsible officer, Edward Larson, initially thought it might be an aircraft, but that possibility was eventually dismissed. This case is a typical example of how civilian observers reported phenomena that, after analysis, were resolved with natural or astronomical explanations.