Venus mistaken for a UFO in Ohio

Summary

In April 1967, a citizen of Springfield, Ohio, reported seeing an unidentified flying object. According to the report, the witness observed a bright object in the western sky around 21:45 local time. The investigation concluded that it was most likely Venus, which at that time was very bright and positioned low in the western sky. The stellar magnitude of Venus was -3.5, making it the brightest astronomical body in that direction.

The report also notes that Venus had been responsible for numerous UFO sightings during the previous month. Although there were no other reports in the area that night, astronomers recognized that Venus, especially when close to Earth, can appear mysterious to non-expert observers. The letter from Lieutenant Colonel George P. Freeman Jr. thanked the observer and explained that, after a detailed investigation, there was no evidence of an unexplained phenomenon.