UFO seen in Williston North Dakota in 1961

Summary

In February 1961, a police officer in Williston, North Dakota, observed a mysterious object for over an hour. The object appeared as a white circle with a red crest near the top, the size of a nickel at arm's length. It moved slightly left and right and remained visible without disappearing. Although photos were taken, they were not received for official analysis. The sighting was recorded with precision, including time, direction, and duration.

The official conclusion pointed to Venus as an explanation, due to its coinciding position in the sky and atmospheric refraction effects. The planet was at its brightest and near the horizon, which could explain the object's movement and appearance. Despite this, the report did not completely rule out the possibility of an UFO. The coincidence between the object's direction and the planet's, along with the officer's testimony, generated some controversy, although it was ultimately considered an astronomical phenomenon.