Circular white light over mountain in Red Bluff

Summary

A witness in Red Bluff, California, reported a circular white light of 150 feet in diameter that remained stationary over a mountain at 8,000 feet elevation for 15 to 20 minutes. The light appeared suddenly and disappeared just as quickly, coinciding with the setting of the planet Venus behind the mountain. Observers were looking in a westerly or west-northwesterly direction, and the object showed no movement during the entire time it was visible. Although it might initially seem unusual, astronomical data indicate that the event is related to the position of Venus in the sky, leading to the classification of the case as an astronomical phenomenon.

The observation was made from the ground and no photos were taken, limiting physical evidence of the event. However, data about the moment, such as the magnitude and position of Venus, match the description of the object. This suggests that what was seen was simply the planet Venus, although its appearance and behavior could have caused some confusion or amazement among the witnesses. The report concludes that there are no indications of an unidentified object, but a phenomenon fully explained by astronomy.