Within Redmond
Could Venus Explain the Redmond Witnesses?
The Redmond case turns on whether trained and official witnesses misread Venus or described a nearby object that Venus cannot explain.
On this page
- What Officer Dickerson said he saw before dawn
- How airport staff and binocular viewing strengthened the report
- Why early morning perception still complicates the claim
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Introduction
The argument over Venus sits at the centre of the Redmond case. Sceptics have long pointed out that Venus was visible in the eastern sky before dawn on 24 September 1959 and was bright enough to attract attention. Supporters of the case respond that the main witnesses were not merely describing a distant point of light. They reported an object that seemed to descend, hover, illuminate nearby terrain, change appearance through binoculars and attract the attention of airport personnel. The real question is therefore not whether Venus was present. It was. The question is whether Venus can reasonably account for what Officer Robert Dickerson and the airport witnesses said they experienced, or whether the reports require either a different explanation or a significant degree of witness error. [Wikimedia Commons]upload.wikimedia.orgOregon. NICAP states that FAA proof of the facts of the sighting, proof which isWikimedia CommonsProject_Blue_Book_report_-_1959-09-6958382-Redmond-…unidentified flying object (UFO) on September 24, 1959 near Redmond…
What Officer Dickerson said he saw before dawn
The strongest challenge to the Venus explanation comes from the earliest stage of the sighting. According to later summaries drawn from Project Blue Book and NICAP material, Redmond police officer Robert Dickerson was on patrol before dawn when he noticed what initially appeared to be a bright object descending through the sky. Instead of fading like a meteor, the light reportedly became larger and seemed to stop. Dickerson later described it as hovering low enough to illuminate juniper trees beneath it. He then drove towards the area and eventually headed for the airport. NICAP YUMPU If that description is substantially accurate, it is difficult to reconcile with Venus alone. Venus can appear unusually bright, especially near the horizon. Atmospheric distortion can also create apparent colour changes and the illusion of movement. However, Venus does not physically descend towards nearby trees, hover a few hundred feet above the ground or cast localised illumination on vegetation. For the Venus explanation to work, Dickerson would have had to misjudge both distance and altitude by a very large margin. Air Force
Supporters of the Venus explanation counter that such misjudgements are not impossible. Human observers often interpret distant lights as nearby objects, particularly in darkness when there are few visual reference points. A bright planet near the horizon can seem larger than it really is and can appear to move when the observer is moving. Yet even critics of the UFO interpretation generally acknowledge that the reported low-altitude hover is the most awkward part of the astronomical explanation. [esd.whs.mil]esd.whs.milProject Blue BookAfterburners from jet aircraft are often reported as UFOs since they can be seen from great distances when the aircraft…
How airport staff and binocular viewing strengthened the report
The case gained importance because Dickerson was not the only person involved. After arriving at Redmond Airport, he reportedly drew the attention of Federal Aviation Agency personnel and other airport staff. Accounts preserved in UFO literature state that the witnesses observed the object through binoculars and described a round or flattened shape with flame-like projections or glowing extensions around its edge. [Facebook]facebook.comSpeaking of UFOsShortly before dawn on September 24…Now Patrolman Dickerson, Wertz, and others studied the hovering object through binoculars. The UFO… [NICAP]nicap.org590924redmond dirNICAPUFO ReportThe Air Force radar at Klamath Falls tracked the disc. Given the Air Force "explanations" and some incorrect data in 1959…
This matters because sceptical explanations often work best when a sighting depends on a single observer. Redmond became harder to dismiss because multiple people reportedly focused on the same object from an airport setting where staff were accustomed to watching the sky. The presence of binocular observations also gave later writers a reason to argue that the witnesses were looking at more than a bright point of light. [NICAP]yumpu.comThe UFO EvidenceNicap6 Apr 2014 — about UFO s and merely believe that the subject should be treated frankly and openly. September 24, 195…
At the same time, binocular evidence is not as decisive as it may sound. Bright astronomical objects can appear surprisingly complex when viewed through binoculars, especially if atmospheric turbulence is strong. A very bright planet seen low on the horizon may seem to shimmer, distort, change colour or develop irregular shapes because the image is being refracted through unstable layers of air. Under those conditions, observers can sincerely believe they are seeing structure where none actually exists. [esd.whs.mil]esd.whs.milProject Blue BookAfterburners from jet aircraft are often reported as UFOs since they can be seen from great distances when the aircraft…
This creates one of the central tensions in the Redmond debate. The binocular observations strengthened the credibility of the witnesses because they suggested deliberate examination rather than a brief glimpse. Yet the same binocular observations do not automatically eliminate Venus because optical distortion can become more noticeable when magnification is added.
Why trained observers do not automatically settle the issue
A recurring argument in favour of the Redmond sighting is that police officers and airport personnel should be considered more reliable than casual witnesses. Dickerson was a law-enforcement officer. The airport observers worked in an aviation environment. UFO researchers have therefore often presented the case as an example of trained witnesses reporting something unusual. [NICAP]nicap.org590924redmond docs12. conclusionsOn 24 September 1959, at 1200Z (0400 local), Mr Robert Dickerson, a policeman of. Redmond, Oregon, sighted an unidentified…
There is some merit to that argument. People who routinely observe aircraft, weather conditions and navigation lights generally have more experience with the night sky than the average member of the public. Their observations deserve attention and cannot simply be dismissed as ignorance.
However, experience does not eliminate perceptual error. Project Blue Book records contain numerous cases in which pilots, police officers and military personnel misidentified stars, planets or atmospheric phenomena. One reason such cases remain controversial is that expertise can increase confidence in an observation without necessarily improving the observer’s ability to judge distance to an unfamiliar light source at night. [Wikipedia]WikipediaProject Blue BookProject Blue Book
The Redmond witnesses therefore occupy an uncomfortable middle ground. Their backgrounds make the reports more interesting than an anonymous sighting. Yet their professional status alone does not prove that the object was nearby or extraordinary.
Why early-morning perception still complicates the claim
The timing of the sighting is one reason Venus remains a serious explanation. The observations occurred before sunrise, precisely when Venus is often at its brightest and most conspicuous. Bright planets viewed close to the horizon can appear unusually large, can flicker through multiple colours and can seem to move because of atmospheric refraction. These effects have contributed to many historical UFO reports. [esd.whs.mil]esd.whs.milProject Blue BookAfterburners from jet aircraft are often reported as UFOs since they can be seen from great distances when the aircraft…
Even so, Redmond is not an easy Venus case. The difficulty is not the brightness of the object but the witness narrative surrounding it. Dickerson’s account involved apparent descent and hovering. Later descriptions included illumination of trees and observations through binoculars. Additional reports associated with the case referred to radar tracking and military aircraft activity, although those claims belong to a wider debate beyond the witness testimony itself. NICAP [2ufologie.patrickgross.org]ufologie.patrickgross.orgThe Redmond UFO incident, September 24, 1959, USA1 Jun 2002 — The UFO was seen again briefly, hovering about 25 miles south of the airport…
For Venus to explain the witness reports completely, several things would have to be true at once:
- Dickerson would have needed to mistake a distant astronomical object for something low and nearby.
- The apparent descent and hover would have to result from perspective effects, motion by the observer or imperfect recollection.
- The binocular descriptions would need to reflect atmospheric distortion rather than genuine structure.
- Airport personnel would have had to reinforce one another’s interpretation rather than independently confirm a nearby object.
That combination is possible, but it requires more than simply noting that Venus was visible.
Why the witness dispute remains central to the Redmond case
The Redmond incident survives in Oregon UFO history largely because neither side can entirely dismiss the other. The Venus explanation has a genuine astronomical foundation and fits the time of day. Bright planets have repeatedly generated convincing UFO reports, including reports from experienced observers. [Wikipedia]WikipediaProject Blue BookProject Blue Book
Yet the witness testimony contains elements that seem to go beyond a straightforward planetary misidentification. The reported low altitude, the movement described by Dickerson and the involvement of airport personnel keep the case from fitting neatly into a simple debunking narrative. Critics of the UFO interpretation see a chain of escalating misunderstandings around a bright morning planet. Defenders of the case see multiple observers describing a nearby object that Venus cannot adequately explain. [NICAP]nicap.org590924redmond dirNICAPUFO ReportThe Air Force radar at Klamath Falls tracked the disc. Given the Air Force "explanations" and some incorrect data in 1959… [NICAP]yumpu.comThe UFO EvidenceNicap6 Apr 2014 — about UFO s and merely believe that the subject should be treated frankly and openly. September 24, 195…
That unresolved tension is precisely why the Redmond sighting remains one of Oregon’s most discussed aviation-linked UFO reports. The debate is not really about whether Venus was in the sky. It is about whether the witnesses were looking at Venus at all.
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Endnotes
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Source: upload.wikimedia.org
Title: Oregon. NICAP states that FAA proof of the facts of the sighting, proof which is
Link: [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Project_Blue_Book_report_-1959-09-6958382-Redmond-Oregon.pdf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Project_Blue_Book_report-_1959-09-6958382-Redmond-Oregon.pdf)Source snippet
Wikimedia CommonsProject_Blue_Book_report_-_1959-09-6958382-Redmond-...unidentified flying object (UFO) on September 24, 1959 near Redmond...
Published: September 24, 1959
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Source: nicap.org
Title: 590924redmond dir
Link: https://www.nicap.org/590924redmond_dir.htmSource snippet
NICAPUFO ReportThe Air Force radar at Klamath Falls tracked the disc. Given the Air Force "explanations" and some incorrect data in 1959...
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Source: yumpu.com
Title: The UFO Evidence
Link: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/24225463/the-ufo-evidence-nicapSource snippet
Nicap6 Apr 2014 — about <strong>UFO</strong>s and merely believe that the subject should be treated frankly and openly. September 24, 195...
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Source: esd.whs.mil
Link: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/proj_b1.pdf?ver=2017-05-22-113513-837 -
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Project Blue Book
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Blue_Book -
Source: facebook.com
Title: Speaking of UFOs
Link: https://www.facebook.com/KGWTV8/posts/speaking-of-ufosshortly-before-dawn-on-september-24-1959-police-officer-robert-d/10156433561235736/Source snippet
Shortly before dawn on September 24...Now Patrolman Dickerson, Wertz, and others studied the hovering object through binoculars. The UFO...
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Source: nicap.org
Title: 590924redmond docs
Link: https://www.nicap.org/docs/590924redmond_docs.pdfSource snippet
12. conclusionsOn 24 September 1959, at 1200Z (0400 local), Mr Robert Dickerson, a policeman of. Redmond, Oregon, sighted an unidentified...
Published: September 1959
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Source: ufologie.patrickgross.org
Link: https://www.ufologie.patrickgross.org/htm/redmond59.htmSource snippet
The Redmond UFO incident, September 24, 1959, USA1 Jun 2002 — The UFO was seen again briefly, hovering about 25 miles south of the airport...
Published: September 24, 1959
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/CentralOregonDaily/posts/in-1959-a-glowing-object-hovered-over-redmond-for-two-hours-caught-on-radar-and-/1473687298096646/Source snippet
In 1959, a glowing object hovered over Redmond for two...The Air Force claims the UFOs are caused by false radar returns, with excitable...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Greater Redmond Historical Society
Link: https://www.facebook.com/RedmondMuseum/posts/1579653520783200/Source snippet
September 24, 1959. About 4:55 a.m. In Redmond, Oregon, police officer Robert Dickerson sees a bright white light rapidly descending nort...
Published: September 24, 1959
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForgottenOregon/posts/1974820736119188/Source snippet
1959... FAA recordings deepen Oregon UFO mystery. Wytheville UFO Documentary...Read more...
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Source: history.com
Title: ufo dogfight gorman us plane fargo
Link: https://www.history.com/articles/ufo-dogfight-gorman-us-plane-fargoSource snippet
Gorman and a mysterious white orb at high altitude above Fargo, North...Read more...
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Source: af.mil
Title: The project, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force
Link: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104590/unidentified-flying-objects-and-air-force-project-blue-book/Source snippet
Air ForceUnidentified Flying Objects and Air Force Project Blue BookFrom 1947 to 1969, the Air Force investigated Unidentified Flying Obj...
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Source: archives.gov
Title: Project BLUE BOOK
Link: https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufosSource snippet
The project closed in 1969 and we have no...Read more...
Additional References
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Source: theaviationgeekclub.com
Title: project blue book story ufo sightings used cover high altitude u 2 flights
Link: https://theaviationgeekclub.com/project-blue-book-story-ufo-sightings-used-cover-high-altitude-u-2-flights/Source snippet
PROJECT BLUE BOOK AND THE STORY OF HOW UFO...Project Blue Book. In the mid-1950s USAF and CIA used UFO sightings to cover very high alti...
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Source: gutenberg.org
Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17346/pg17346-images.htmlSource snippet
An investigation was started at once. Flight Service, which clears all military aircraft flights...Read more...
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Source: cia.gov
Link: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp81r00560r000100010001-0Source snippet
THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON..." [cf., September 24, 1959, Redmond, Oregon; Section V.] Cedaredge Marshal Ed Marah and State...
Published: September 24, 1959
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Source: forcesnews.com
Title: project blue book what was us air force operation investigate ufos
Link: https://www.forcesnews.com/usa/project-blue-book-what-was-us-air-force-operation-investigate-ufosSource snippet
Project Blue Book: What was US Air Force operation to...3 Aug 2022 — More than 12000 sightings of UFOs were investigated during the prog...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1e8ohup/fighter_jets_scrambled_to_intercept_ufo_police/Source snippet
September 24, 1959, there was an important incident over the city and airport of Redmond, Oregon, when a policeman observed a large UFO...
Published: September 24, 1959
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Source: unexplained-mysteries.com
Title: 231270 highly dubious usaf ufo explanations
Link: https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/topic/231270-highly-dubious-usaf-ufo-explanations/?comment=4401758&do=findCommentSource snippet
Highly Dubious USAF UFO Explanations.Shortly before dawn on September 24th,1959,Police Officer Robert Dickerson was driving through the s...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: How the Mc Minnville UFO sighting inspired Oregon’s famous UFO festival
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I70VGsQ6ZVwSource snippet
Project Blue Book UFO Files: 15 True Declassified Cases...
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Source: alienexpanse.com
Link: https://alienexpanse.com/index.php?threads%2Fhighly-dubious-usaf-ufo-explanations.5093%2F=Source snippet
Highly Dubious USAF UFO Explanations.10 Dec 2020 — Shortly before dawn on September 24th,1959,Police Officer Robert Dickerson was driving...
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Source: instagram.com
Title: DQkzjm Ejb W
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQkzjmEjb-W/Source snippet
In 1959, Redmond, Oregon made national headlines when...In 1959, Redmond, Oregon made national headlines when police, FAA officials, and...
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Source: bendsource.com
Title: The Source
Link: https://www.bendsource.com/news/uforegon-16707374/Source snippet
Bend, OregonUFOregon27 Apr 2022 — On Sept. 24, 1959, Redmond police officer Robert Dickerson spotted a flying mushroom-shaped object movi...
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