18.04.2024

The 701 club: Case 7284: February 27, 1961 Bark River, MICHIGAN

Don Berlinner describes the case as follows:

Feb, 27, 1961; Bark River, Michigan. 10:15 p.m. Witness: Mrs. LaPalm. One fiery-red, round object, preceded by light rays, slowed and descended, while her dog howled. Sighting lasted 10 minutes.1

Sparks’ entry is basically a repeat of Berlinner’s.2

The Blue Book file3

The case file consists of a four page teletype message documenting the sighting and that is it. I am not even sure if anybody bothered to follow-up. Details about the sighting:

•It was round, about the size of a grapefruit and fiery red.

•Light rays appeared to be projected ahead of the object.

•Witness was first alerted to the object by the dog howling. She went to the window and saw the object. She called the 16-year old daughter to verify her observation.

•Object was initially sighted at 270 degrees azimuth and 20 degrees elevation.

•Object disappeared at 360 degrees azimuth and 0 degrees elevation

•Object was first thought to be stationary but then they noticed it was moving slowly northward and decreasing in elevation.

•Object disappeared into trees.

•Duration was 10 minutes

•Time was 0315Z on the 28th (Zulu time)

•A check of aircraft was made but none were in the area.

Analysis

At first glance this could have several possibilities. It could have been an aircraft but the AF checked and could find none in the area. Another possibility was that it was a satellite. The Echo satellite might have produced the event. It made a pass around 0305Z but would have been to the southwest and moving southward. That leaves me with examining astronomical possibilities.

There is a candidate for this sighting and it involves a popular candidate for UFO reports. The planet Venus was setting in the west. It was nearing greatest brilliancy and was magnitude -4.79. It was located at azimuth 286 degrees and elevation 1.5 degrees at 0315Z.

It set around 0327Z at an azimuth of 288 degrees. The only problem with the explanation was the witness stating it was last seen at azimuth 360 degrees. However, the witnesses also stated it was originally stationary and then observed it moving slowly north and downward in elevation. It is possible the 360 azimuth value was simply assumed by the officer who took the information down.

Most of the description does match Venus setting.

As for the dog howling, dog’s bark/howl at just about anything unusual they hear or see. I don’t think the Dog was howling at Venus.

It probably was just howling/barking at some noise it heard coming from outside.

Conclusion

When one considers the possibility that the 360 degree ending azimuth is an error/overestimate, Venus is a prime candidate for this sighting. One issue that is important to consider is that the witness never mentions also seeing Venus near the object when it was first observed. It would have been hard to miss. That implies the witness was probably looking at Venus and the ending azimuth was an assumption or error in reporting. I would consider this reclassified as possibly Venus and removed from the list unidentifieds.

Quelle: SUNlite 1/2024