Cambridge, MassachusettsFebruary 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 1, 1961, just before sunset, a civilian at Cambridge, Massachusetts reported a round, bright silver object. It was between the size of a pea and a head of a pin at arm's length and looked almost like a star. It was first seen at about 80 degrees elevation.

The object moved slowly toward the west and faded out into the horizon. The witness used 8-power binoculars. The sighting was reported to last several hours, from about 1640 to 2140 (4:40 to 9:40 p.m.). The base operations officer who took the report thought the object could be a star.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical. The comment says the object was probably the planet Venus, which was very bright at the time, and notes that the setting time of the planet matched the disappearance of the object.

Reported location

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Date of incident

February 1961

State / country

MA / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

a ne PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD |
| DATE 2. LOCATION | 12. CONCLUSIONS |
$12 O Wos Balloon
1 Feb 61 Cambridge, Massachusetts DO Probably Balloon
! 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION TSE SIN
| POISE | seta a Ground- Visual O Ground-Redar a Beto fi verdh |
| GMT 21402 0 AirVisual 0 Air-Intercept Radar DO Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS | . SOURCE O Was Astronomical VE Nes
QO Yes 8 Probobly Astronomical
8 No Civ a DO Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF.OBSERVATION ¥ NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE . Be —
| : O Insufficient Date for Evaluation
0 Unknown
| hrs. i Ww ;
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTINGRO r silver- 1. COMMENTS Object probably planet Venus. |
~ polored object. between size of pea and head ofIt is not unusual for the planet to be
| pin. ak Looked almost like a star. 80° eleva-|seen in the daytime and it was very bright
tion when first observed. Disappeared toward [during this period having a magnitude of
| orizon. -k.1. It is surprising however that the |
: witnesses did not report the shape as a half
moon since the planet was in a position ; |
| which resulted in this appearance. Settihg |
time of planet coincides with disappeara ce |
of object. This object was probably plangt |
Venus.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
i / /
| :
RB Raa ahs MRL EAT ps

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991286