UFO sighted in Bitburg, Germany, identified as Venus

Summary

A yellow, circular object was observed in Bitburg, Germany, on February 9, 1961. Military and civilian witnesses watched it for 30 minutes, describing it as the size of a half-dollar coin at arm’s length. It appeared at 20° above the horizon and disappeared at 7°, rotating as it moved westward. Initially puzzling, astronomical data confirmed it was Venus, seen near the horizon, which explains its unusual appearance. The observation was made with an amateur telescope, adding credibility to the report.

Earth's atmosphere can distort the appearance of celestial objects near the horizon, creating unusual optical effects. In this case, the apparent rotation and color change were attributed to the low observation angle, where light passes through more atmosphere. The alignment with Venus's position and the collective testimony of multiple observers support the conclusion that this was not an unidentified object, but a common astronomical phenomenon.