ณ ณ ณ ณ ษอออออออออออออออออออออออออออออป บ T R U S T N O O N E บ ศอออออออออออออออออออออออออออออผ ณ ณ ณ ณ /\ +--+ +----+ / \ //======// ===\\ / \ // // \\ / \ //====// ==\\ +------------+ /// \\======================================/// \\====================================/// Things to beware of in 1997: Gradual acclimation of the public to the idea of 'extraterrestrial life', possibly in the form of us somehow being martian progeny, all for dubious political ends. ------------------------------------------------------------------- : Carter/Venus From: Keith Rowell Newsgroups: sci.skeptic Subject: Carter's NICAP UFO report verbatim Date: 20 Nov 91 Read and make what you will of Carter's own words on his NICAP UFO report! You dedicated debunkers can breathe a sigh of relief because it looks like Venus, but do a little armchair UFO *research* anyway and actually read a real, live UFO report -- something none of you have done until now I am sure. The following is a typescript of a facsimile of the form that Jimmy Carter filled out for NICAP. The text between asterisks in the form is Carter's own words verbatim. I have taken some liberties with the format of the form, but the text is accurate. Text found between square brackets is my attempt to clarify where there may be some ambiguities. The form is found on pages 63-65 in Story, Ronald D. (ed), The Encyclopedia of UFOs, (Doubleday, 1980) ISBN 0-385-11681-0. Look at Carter's answers to the questions and see if you think he and 10 other people were looking at Venus as Robert Sheaffer claims. See especially his answer to questions 12 and 20. But note that a Center for UFO Studies-sponsored study of 1300 UFO reports has established that Venus does indeed account for a lot of sightings. 360 reports fell into the category of "stars and planets". See Hendry, Allan, The UFO Handbook, (Doubleday, 1979) ISBN 0-385-14348-6. ****************************BEGIN NICAP FORM************************ NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE ON AERIAL PHENOMENA (NICAP) 3535 University Blvd. West Kensington, Maryland 20795 301-949-1267 REPORT ON UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT(S) This form includes questions asked by the United States Air Force and by other Armed Forces' investigating agencies, and additional questions to which answers are needed for full evaluation by NICAP. After all the information has been fully studied, the conclusions of our Evaluation Panel will be published by NICAP in its regularly issued magazine or in another publication. Please try to answer as many questions as possible. Should you need additional room, please use another sheet of paper. Please print or typewrite. Your assistance is of great value and is genuinely appreciated. Thank you. 1. Name *Jimmy Carter* Place of Employment Address *State Capitol Atlanta* Occupation *Governor* Date of Birth Education *Graduate* Special Training *Nuclear Physics* Telephone (404) 656-1776 Military Service *U.S. Navy* 2. Date of Observation *October 1969* Time AM PM Time Zone *7:15* *EST* 3. Locality of Observation *Leary, Georgia* 4. How long did you see the object? [BLANK] Hours *10-12* Minutes [BLANK] Seconds 5. Please describe weather conditions and the type of sky; i.e. bright daylight, nighttime, dusk, etc. *Shortly after dark.* 6. Position of the Sun or Moon in relation to the object and to you. *Not in sight.* 7. If seen at night, twilight, or dawn, were the stars or moon visible? *Stars.* 8. Were there more than one object? *No.* If so, please tell how many, and draw a sketch of what you saw, indicating direction of movement, if any. [BLANK] 9. Please describe the object(s) in detail. For instance, did it (they) appear solid, or only as a source of light; was it revolving, etc.? Pleas use additional sheets of paper, if necessary. [BLANK] 10. Was the object(s) brighter than the background of the sky? *Yes.* 11. If so, compare the brightness with the Sun, Moon, headlights, etc. *At one time, as bright as the moon.* 12. Did the object(s) -- (Please elaborate, if you can give details.) a. Appear to stand still at any time? *yes* b. Suddenly speed up and rush away at any time? [BLANK] c. Break up into parts or explode? [BLANK] d. Give off smoke? [BLANK] e. Leave any visible trail? [BLANK] f. Drop anything? [BLANK] g. Change brightness? *yes* h. Change shape? *size* i. Change color? *yes* *Seemed to move toward us from a distance, stopped -- moved partially away -- returned, then departed. Bluish at first, then reddish, luminous, not solid.* 13. Did object(s) at any time pass in front of, or behind of, anything? If so, please elaborate giving distance, size, etc., if possible. *no.* 14. Was there any wind? *no.* If so, please give direction and speed. [BLANK] 15. Did you observe the object(s) through an optical instrument or other aid, windshield, windowpane, storm window, screening, etc? What? *no.* 16. Did the object(s) have any sound? *no* What kind? How loud? 17. Please tell if the object(s) was (were) -- a. Fuzzy or blurred. [BLANK] b. Like a bright star. [BLANK] c. Sharply outlined. *x* 18. Was the object -- a. Self-luminous? *x* b. Dull finish? [BLANK] c. Reflecting? [BLANK] d. Transparent [BLANK] 19. Did the object(s) rise or fall while in motion? *came close, moved away-came close then moved away.* 20. Tell the apparent size of the object(s) when compared with the following held at arm's length: a. Pinhead b. Pea c. Dime d. Nickel e. Half dollar f. Silver dollar g. Orange h. Grapefruit i. Larger Or, if easier, give apparent size in inches on a ruler held at arm's length. *About the same as moon, maybe a little smaller. Varied from brighter/larger than planet to apparent size of moon.* 21. How did you happen to notice the object(s)? *10-12 men all watched it. Brightness attracted us.* 22. Where were you and what were you doing at the time? *Outdoors waiting for a meeting to begin at 7:30pm.* 23. How did the object(s) disappear from view? *Moved to distance then disappeared* 24. Compare the speed of the object(s) with a piston or jet aircraft at the same apparent altitude. *Not pertinent* 25. Were there any conventional aircraft in the location at the time or immediately afterwards? If so, please elaborate. *No.* 26. Please estimate the distance of the object(s). *Difficult. Maybe 300-1000 yards.* 27. What was the elevation of the object(s) in the sky? Please mark on this hemisphere sketch. *About 30 [degrees] above horizon.* [Mark on arc representing sky elevation looks marked at about 30 degrees.] 28. Names and addresses of other witnesses, if any. *Ten members of Leary Georgia Lions Club.* 29. What do you think you saw? a. Extraterrestrial device? [BLANK] b. UFO? [BLANK] c. Planet or star? [BLANK] d. Aircraft? [BLANK] e. Satellite? [BLANK] f. Hoax? [BLANK] g. Other? (Please specify). [BLANK] 30. Please describe your feeling and reactions during the sighting. Were you calm, nervous, frightened, apprehensive, awed, etc.? If you wish your answer to this question to remain confidential, please indicate with a check mark. (User a separate sheet if necessary.) [BLANK] 31. Please draw a map of the locality of the observation showing North; your position; the direction from which the object(s) appeared and disappeared form view; the direction of its course over the area; roads, towns, villages, railroads, and other landmarks within a mile. *Appeared from West--About 30 [degrees] up.* 32. Is there an airport, military, governmental, or research installation in the area? *No* 33. Have you seen other objects of an unidentified nature? If so, please describe these observations, using a separate sheet of paper. *No* 34. Please enclose photographs, motion pictures, news clippings, notes of radio or television programs (include time, station and date, if possible) regarding this or similar observations, or any other background material. We will return the material to you if requested. *None.* 34. Were you interrogated by Air Force investigators? By any other federal, state, county, or local officials? If so, please state the name and rank or title of the agent, his office, and details as to where and when the questioning took place. [BLANK] Were you asked or told not to reveal or discuss the incident? If so, were any reasons or official orders mentioned? Please elaborate carefully. *No.* 35. We should like to use your name in connection with this report. This action will encourage other responsible citizens to report similar observations to NICAP. However, if you prefer, we will keep your name confidential. Please note your choice by checking the proper statement below. In any case, please fill in all parts of the form, for our own confidential files. Thank you for your cooperation. You may use my name ( *x* ) Please keep my name confidential ( ) 37. Date of filling out this report Signature: [signed] *9-18-73* Jimmy Carter ****************************END NICAP FORM************************