Project 10073 Record — Malden, Massachusetts, 28 March 1966

On March 28, 1966, Celia Fickett of Malden, Massachusetts, reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon to the U.S. Air Force. Ms. Fickett, along with two roommates, observed a large, bright light in the sky around 4:00 A.M. from their fourth-floor apartment. The witness described the object as appearing to throw out streamers in every direction and remaining stationary for approximately one hour before moving in a southerly direction. As dawn approached, the object appeared to move higher in the sky and became a bright white dot. Ms. Fickett initially contacted the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory before submitting a formal report to the Technical Intelligence Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of Project Blue Book, corresponded with Ms. Fickett, requesting further details via an FTD Form 164. Following the investigation, the object was officially identified as the planet Venus. In her follow-up correspondence, Ms. Fickett acknowledged that she had realized the object was the 'Morning Star' and expressed certainty that the sighting was indeed Venus.