Project 10073 Record — Utica, New York, 17 February 1967

This document contains a U.S. Air Force sighting report and subsequent correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed in Utica, New York, on February 17, 1967. The civilian observer reported seeing a single, bright, yellowish-white object that appeared to be a star, which they initially believed to be Sirius. The observation lasted for approximately 50 minutes, during which the object remained in sight until it was obscured by clouds. The observer noted that the object appeared brighter than Jupiter and was visible at an elevation of 14 degrees. The witness, a 14-year-old male, indicated in his report that he had previously written to Project Blue Book multiple times regarding UFOs. Following the submission of the technical information questionnaire, the Air Force conducted an analysis of the sighting. The official conclusion, communicated to the observer by Lt. Colonel George P. Freeman, Jr. on March 28, 1967, determined that the object was the planet Venus, which would have been visible in the western sky at an azimuth of 255 degrees and an elevation of approximately 15 degrees at the time of the sighting.