UFO, Area 51, etc. ASTR 1420 Lecture 23 Section 12.4

More than a half of Americans believe UFO 2002 October poll 2002 October poll o 72 percent of Americans believe the government is holding the truth on UFO o men more than women think such information should be shared with the public o The younger you are, the stronger your belief that the government is withholding information 1997 CNN/TIME MAGAZINE POLL (June) 54% believe intelligent life exists beyond earth 64% believe aliens have contacted humans 50% believe that aliens have abducted humans 37% believe that aliens have contacted the US government 75% believe that a UFO crashed near Roswell 26% believe that they would be expected to be treated as an enemy 39% believe that aliens would appear very humanoid 1997 CNN/TIME MAGAZINE POLL (June) 54% believe intelligent life exists beyond earth 64% believe aliens have contacted humans 50% believe that aliens have abducted humans 37% believe that aliens have contacted the US government 75% believe that a UFO crashed near Roswell 26% believe that they would be expected to be treated as an enemy 39% believe that aliens would appear very humanoid In a 1947 US Gallup Poll 90% of the population who heard of flying saucers believed they were not real. In a 1947 US Gallup Poll 90% of the population who heard of flying saucers believed they were not real.

1 st modern report June 24, 1947 by a businessman Kenneth Arnold June 24, 1947 by a businessman Kenneth Arnold 9 shiny objects with wings streaking the sky at 2,000 km/h 9 shiny objects with wings streaking the sky at 2,000 km/h A reporter mistakenly described the objects as “flying saucers” A reporter mistakenly described the objects as “flying saucers”  “… they flew erratic like a saucer if you skip it across the water.”

UFO sightings about 10,000 sightings are reported a year about 10,000 sightings are reported a year It is true that there are unidentified objects being seen in the sky It is true that there are unidentified objects being seen in the sky Some claims from seasoned pilots or astronauts whose credibility is not in question. Some claims from seasoned pilots or astronauts whose credibility is not in question. Even many astronomers have seen unidentifiable objects in the sky. Even many astronomers have seen unidentifiable objects in the sky. Something unidentifiable ≠ UFOs Something unidentifiable ≠ UFOs US Air Force started investigation on the UFO phenomenon (largely by Cold War concerns). US Air Force started investigation on the UFO phenomenon (largely by Cold War concerns).

Betty and Barney Hill Best well known alien abduction Best well known alien abduction Barney (USPS) and Betty (social worker) Barney (USPS) and Betty (social worker) 1961, Sep 19, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 1961, Sep 19, Portsmouth, New Hampshire o traveling home from Montreal on one night o saw a bright light  oval shape o followed their car o car engine stalled, spaceship landed o abducted and examined. o Betty conversed with an alien o alien showed a starmap o returned home with no memory o nightmares for years o story revealed under hypnosis Examined by US Air Force, and Examined by US Air Force, and later under hypnosis by Dr. Simon

In 50s and 60s, experts could identify UFOs into bright stars and planets, aircraft and gliders, rocket launches, balloons, birds, ball lightning, meteors, atmospheric phenomena, and hoax.

Ball lightning atmospheric electric phenomenon via unknown mechanism. atmospheric electric phenomenon via unknown mechanism. unlike regular flash lightnings, these ball lightning can last several seconds with a size in the range of a fist to several meters across. unlike regular flash lightnings, these ball lightning can last several seconds with a size in the range of a fist to several meters across. The physicists produce luminous plasma balls above a water surface which have lifetimes of almost half a second and diameters of 10 to 20 centimetres.

Flying Saucer over Damascus, Syria?

Lenticular cloud formation

Lenticular Cloud

Chinese Lanterns in the Sky

Chinese Sky Lanterns as UFOs

Lubbock Lights Aug 1951, three Texas Tech faculty members Aug 1951, three Texas Tech faculty members faint white lights in a formation passing the sky. They estimated the altitude being ~50,000 feet  5 miles per second! faint white lights in a formation passing the sky. They estimated the altitude being ~50,000 feet  5 miles per second! An hour later they saw one more group. An hour later they saw one more group. 2 hours later saw a 3 rd group. 2 hours later saw a 3 rd group. It is impossible to determine the distance, altitude, or the speed of an object in the sky

Venus in Georgia Fall 1967, police officers at 10+ places reported sighting of UFOs. Fall 1967, police officers at 10+ places reported sighting of UFOs. Two officers “chased” the “bright-red football shaped light” for 8 miles and could not chase it.  when they returned to their station, it caught up with them! Two officers “chased” the “bright-red football shaped light” for 8 miles and could not chase it.  when they returned to their station, it caught up with them! They watched it ~30min seeing that the UFO changed in color from red  orange  white, climbing in the sky until it resembled “a star”. They watched it ~30min seeing that the UFO changed in color from red  orange  white, climbing in the sky until it resembled “a star”. The police report sparked a local interest in UFOs. Hundreds of UFO sightings in following weeks. The police report sparked a local interest in UFOs. Hundreds of UFO sightings in following weeks.  The tendency (ability) of one report to trigger many others!

Venus and Jupiter in Caspian Sea

UFOs about 90% of the well-documented UFO cases were explainable as earthly phenomena. about 90% of the well-documented UFO cases were explainable as earthly phenomena. This does not mean that the remaining 10% unexplainable cases are alien spaceships! This does not mean that the remaining 10% unexplainable cases are alien spaceships!

Government Conspiracy Alien Spaceship crashed in Roswell, TX Alien Spaceship crashed in Roswell, TX  corpse of alien and spacecraft were transported to Area 51  corpse of alien and spacecraft were transported to Area 51 Why should alien astronauts travel all the way to Earth to visit only United States? Why should alien astronauts travel all the way to Earth to visit only United States? UFO sightings from all over the world. UFO sightings from all over the world. Does this mean that USA, India, Italy, Israel, Croatia, China, Congo, etc. are all involved in the world-wide cover up? Does this mean that USA, India, Italy, Israel, Croatia, China, Congo, etc. are all involved in the world-wide cover up?

Roswell, Alien Crash site (July 1947). Fallen military spy balloons to check Soviet’s nuclear explosion tests during Cold War

Crop circles Over several decades, simple patterns have appeared each summer in southern England. Over several decades, simple patterns have appeared each summer in southern England. Due to the size and the speed of them showing up overnight, they were perceived as alien activity. Due to the size and the speed of them showing up overnight, they were perceived as alien activity. Over time, the pattern got complicated. Over time, the pattern got complicated. Later, it is publicly demonstrated that such a marking can be easily created overnight with a couple of students. Later, it is publicly demonstrated that such a marking can be easily created overnight with a couple of students.

Others… Wild animal mutilation by aliens Wild animal mutilation by aliens  Chupacabras Alien abduction Alien abduction  sleep paralysis? occur during REM sleep, for a few minutes after the brain wakes up, our body can be still in sleep paralysis with active vision and feeling. survey says that ~50% of people experience sleep paralysis at some points in their lives.

Ancient Aliens Easter island stone statues (14 tons) Mystical flying machine (Vimanas) in Sanskrit epics (more than 2000 yrs old) Ancient painting in Italy (10,000BC)

Ancient Visitation Ancient alien astronauts visited the Earth leaving behind many relics of their interactions with human beings. von Daniken (Charlatan at best) von Daniken (Charlatan at best) o Ancient Egyptian did not have pre-historical record of technology/skill to build such large pyramids. o Sphinx is the image of extraterrestrial visitors. o The height of Khufu pyramid (146.7 meters high)  multiply by 1 billion times  million km (nearly identical to the distance b/w Sun and Earth)!  Can’t be a coincidence. Aliens must have told Egyptians! o typical ball pens (14.9 cm)  trillion times  exactly match the distance!

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence! Carl Sagan

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using the HiRISE (Mar 2012) NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using the HiRISE (Mar 2012)

In summary… Important Concepts Not all UFO sightings can be explainable. But it does not mean that they are real! Reasons why some sightings are thought to be alien related. Important Terms Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) sleep paralysis Chapter/sections covered in this lecture : 9.1

Wow signal 1977 Aug 15 by Jerry Ehman 1977 Aug 15 by Jerry Ehman using the “Big Ear” radio telescope at Ohio State Univ. a strong narrowband radio signal lasted for 72 seconds! a strong narrowband radio signal lasted for 72 seconds!

Wow signal Exactly what we Exactly what we expected for a signal from ETI! never repeated… never repeated… RA=19:22:22 RA=19:22:22 DE=-27:03:00 DE=-27:03:00