Project 10073 Record — Morrisonville, New York, 13 June 1966

On 13 June 1966, at 0700Z, a civilian observer located two miles north of Morrisonville, New York, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial object. The observer, a 44-year-old telephone operator at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, was alerted to the object by her mother, who had seen it through a window while unable to sleep. The object was described as round, emitting light rays, and possessing a yellowish glow that twinkled like a star. The observer estimated the object's size to be smaller than a dime held at arm's length. The object remained visible for approximately 30 minutes, during which time it did not move or perform any maneuvers. The observer returned to sleep and, upon rechecking the location 30 minutes later, the object was no longer visible. Major Allen H. Doyle of the 380th Strategic Aerospace Wing investigated the report. Weather conditions at the time were reported as a clear, dark night with unlimited ceiling and 15 miles visibility. An astronomical check using the May-August 1966 Almanac revealed that the planet Saturn was positioned at 15 degrees of altitude in the east at 108 degrees azimuth at the time of the sighting. The investigation concluded that the object was, in all probability, the planet Saturn, noting that atmospheric refraction on a clear night could cause the planet to appear larger and brighter than usual to an observer.