UFO seen as planet Mars in Maryland

Summary

In August 1956, an observer in Hyattsville, Maryland, noticed an object that appeared to be an unusually bright star. She described the object as a "shredded conical parachute" with a reddish to whitish glow. The object was slowly moving south and remained visible for two hours, both with the naked eye and through binoculars. The official evaluation concluded that the phenomenon was not an UFO, but an astronomical observation of Mars. Although initially intriguing, the report highlighted that there was no evidence of non-natural activity.

The report, part of Project 10073, was classified as astronomical, eliminating the need for further investigation. The observer did not report additional details, such as noise or behavioral changes in the object, supporting the interpretation that it was a planet. This case reflects how civilian observers often report celestial phenomena as unidentified objects before they are properly understood.