Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record — Youngsville, New York, 30 October 1966
Ever wanted to host your own late-night paranormal radio show?
Across the Airwaves
You're on the air. Callers bring Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawlers, UFO sightings, reptilian autopsies, and whispers about AATIP and Project Blue Book. Every reply shapes how the night goes.
AI-Generated Summary
A civilian report of a bright light in the sky over Youngsville, New York, on October 30, 1966, was investigated by the Air Force and identified as the planet Venus.
On October 30, 1966, at 2330Z, a civilian observer located two miles north of Youngsville, New York, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial object. The witness, a housewife aged 45 to 50, observed the object while looking out a west-facing window in her home. She described the object as a very bright, star-like white light that appeared to have flickering red and green lights. The object was observed for approximately ten minutes, moving slowly from the southwest to the west, and appearing to move up and down slightly as it traveled along the horizon above a hill. The weather conditions were reported as a very clear, moonlit night. The report was processed by the 4603D Air Base Group (ADC) at Stewart Air Force Base and forwarded to the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) under Project 10073. Captain William J. Archibald, the investigating officer, concluded that the object was the planet Venus. He noted that the planet's position and movement were consistent with the report, and that the perceived flickering colors and movement were likely the result of atmospheric refraction and the autokinetic effect, which occurs when a stationary light is observed against a background with few reference points.
The slight up and down movement could be caused by the autokinetic effect that is caused by starring at a light with few other reference points available.
PDF not loading? Download the PDF directly
Official Assessment
The planet venus was visible during the period of sighting. Its movement would conform with the movement of the object in question. The Red and Green lights could be a result of refraction of the light through the atmosphere. The slight up and down movement could be caused by the autokinetic effect that is caused by starring at a light with few other reference points available.
The sighting was determined to be the planet Venus, with perceived movement and color changes attributed to atmospheric refraction and the autokinetic effect.
Witnesses
Key Persons
- D. C. BOYDChief, Operations & Training Division
- WILLIAM J. ARCHIBALDInvestigating Offical