Red UFO Sighted in Washington 1956

Summary

In September 1956, a witness in Washington, D.C., reported a reddish, round object that remained visible for twenty minutes. Described as the size of a button or pea, it moved with vertical motions near the horizon. Although it showed no aircraft or balloon features, weather data and the absence of stars in the sky led to the consideration that it might be Mars viewed through a temperature inversion. The sighting, though brief, was officially recorded due to its unusual nature.

The report includes details like wind direction, cloud height, and visibility, which help contextualize the event. Two additional witnesses confirmed the object's presence, though it made no sound and had no aerodynamic features. The Mars hypothesis, although not fully supported by azimuth and elevation data, was supported by the planet's visibility in an otherwise starless sky. Despite the ambiguity, the case was filed as an unidentified UFO sighting.