I was just doing some work outside when I noticed a bright object directly above my house. At first I thought it might be Venus, but it was so bright that I knew it couldn’t be, and it was in the wrong location in the sky. I soon noticed that it was moving in a northeasterly direction, much more slowly than an airplane, and it appeared to be perhaps three or four thousand feet above me (my best guess). I grabbed my 9x2.5 binoculars, all that I could get to quickly, to see if I could identify the object. It was whitish, with no obvious shape – in fact, it looked like it was continually changing shape or tumbling as I watched it, for perhaps one or two minutes.
From where I was observing, it passed behind the house at an apparent altitude of about 20 degrees, but by the time I moved so that I could continue watching, it seemed to have vanished. I couldn’t relocate it.
Obviously, Earth is under attack by unknown alien forces, so I recommend that everyone take appropriate action. Guy, get out your largest weapon. (Kidding…) I really am baffled by what I saw, and I have only one working theory: Perhaps it was a partially deflated and falling weather balloon. I simply couldn’t see enough detail to identify it. If anyone else saw it, or has any other ideas, let me know. This is only my second bona fide UFO sighting. However, let me be clear: My definition of a UFO is something that flies and that is unidentifiable by those who observe it. I DO NOT believe that extraterrestrials ever have or ever will visit planet Earth. My first UFO sighting was at night, of a greenish object visible in the west from Rush Valley. It was likely a flare of some kind in use at Dugway by the military, but since it was moving in the sky and I couldn’t identify it – voila! a UFO. OK, now we can all go back to debating global warming. Kim No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.10 - Release Date: 3/10/2009 12:00 AM
You're far from the first person in this area I've heard say they have seen a UFO. With so much military in the area it's hard to say what anything is. For the record I've never seen anything in the sky I couldn't identify but some of the descriptions I've heard from others are hard to connect with anything I'm familiar with, which doesn't mean much. The last report I heard, about 4-5 years ago, was a can shaped object hovering over downtown Salt lake in mid-day, broad daylight. The object hovered for about 20 minutes before it moved off, straight up. The witnesses (3, different locations and not related) all said it was anywhere from a half mile to a mile above the city. Unfortunately I didn't hear about it till after it left and none of the 3 I know had a camera at the time so I did not see it. For better or worse it gets thrown in with a lot of other sightings you just can do anything with. I have no idea what it could be based on the descriptions, I'm also inclined to attribute these things to something very Earthly. I beleive most UFOs are mis-identifications, I'm sure a great many are military aircraft. But you just never know. I would rather debate this than Global Warming. It's much more interesting and the sides are not divided along party lines. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Kim Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 12:53 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: [Utah-astronomy] UFO alert! I was just doing some work outside when I noticed a bright object directly above my house. At first I thought it might be Venus, but it was so bright that I knew it couldn't be, and it was in the wrong location in the sky. I soon noticed that it was moving in a northeasterly direction, much more slowly than an airplane, and it appeared to be perhaps three or four thousand feet above me (my best guess). I grabbed my 9x2.5 binoculars, all that I could get to quickly, to see if I could identify the object. It was whitish, with no obvious shape - in fact, it looked like it was continually changing shape or tumbling as I watched it, for perhaps one or two minutes.
From where I was observing, it passed behind the house at an apparent altitude of about 20 degrees, but by the time I moved so that I could continue watching, it seemed to have vanished. I couldn't relocate it.
Obviously, Earth is under attack by unknown alien forces, so I recommend that everyone take appropriate action. Guy, get out your largest weapon. (Kidding.) I really am baffled by what I saw, and I have only one working theory: Perhaps it was a partially deflated and falling weather balloon. I simply couldn't see enough detail to identify it. If anyone else saw it, or has any other ideas, let me know. This is only my second bona fide UFO sighting. However, let me be clear: My definition of a UFO is something that flies and that is unidentifiable by those who observe it. I DO NOT believe that extraterrestrials ever have or ever will visit planet Earth. My first UFO sighting was at night, of a greenish object visible in the west from Rush Valley. It was likely a flare of some kind in use at Dugway by the military, but since it was moving in the sky and I couldn't identify it - voila! a UFO. OK, now we can all go back to debating global warming. Kim No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.10 - Release Date: 3/10/2009 12:00 AM _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Hi Kim, my first thought after reading your description, and noting the direction of travel, was one of those disk-shaped mylar balloons. If it were tumbling, it could appear to change shape. Checking winds aloft today, they are generally from the west and southwest- which would push your UFO in the direction observerd. 2009/3/14 Kim <kimharch@cut.net>
Perhaps it was a partially deflated and falling weather balloon.
Hi Kim,
The two Dave's and I saw a UFO during a lunar eclipse. We all saw it in 20x80 binoculars as we tracked it through about a quarter of the sky. A moving object none of us could ID equals a UFO. We were adjacent to the Wendover Bombing Range. Thats all I will say, perhaps D. Bennett will concur. and in case any of you wanted any more on global warming history. "in 1976 the U.S. News & World Report described (with strong qualifications) the theories that the world would be getting cooler. The very next year the same magazine reported that "The world may be inching into a prolonged warming trend that is the direct result of burning more and more fossil fuels..." The ice-age theories, said the article, "are being convincingly opposed by growing evidence of human impact."(71) Similarly, in 1976 Business Week had explained both sides of the debate but reported that "the dominant school maintains that the world is becoming cooler." Just one year later, the magazine declared that CO2 "may be the world's biggest environmental problem, threatening to raise the world's temperature" with horrendous long-term consequences." "The change in press coverage was not due to any obvious change in the weather the winter of 1978-79 was the coldest on record for the United States. Nor was there any single scientific revelation, for amid the complexities of geophysics, no individual finding could ever be decisive. But several research results published in the mid 1970s (perhaps especially from computer models) swayed the opinions of scientists. In early 1978 the New York Times reported that a poll of climate scientists found them evenly divided on whether there would be warming, cooling, or no particular change. But the balance among the handful of top experts had shifted strongly toward the likelihood of warming. In the scientific journals, where articles are published only after critical review by scientist peers, a few articles had appeared in the early 1970s that projected cooling in future centuries. These papers had always been outnumbered by articles that either predicted warming or said it was premature to make any prediction. After the mid 1970s, the papers predicting global warming predominated and became increasingly numerous. The views represented in the scientific literature migrated, with the usual exaggeration and simplification, to science journalists." Erik I was just doing some work outside when I noticed a bright object directly
above my house. At first I thought it might be Venus, but it was so bright that I knew it couldnt be, and it was in the wrong location in the sky. I soon noticed that it was moving in a northeasterly direction, much more slowly than an airplane, and it appeared to be perhaps three or four thousand feet above me (my best guess). I grabbed my 9x2.5 binoculars, all that I could get to quickly, to see if I could identify the object. It was whitish, with no obvious shape in fact, it looked like it was continually changing shape or tumbling as I watched it, for perhaps one or two minutes. From where I was observing, it passed behind the house at an apparent altitude of about 20 degrees, but by the time I moved so that I could continue watching, it seemed to have vanished. I couldnt relocate it.
Obviously, Earth is under attack by unknown alien forces, so I recommend that everyone take appropriate action. Guy, get out your largest weapon. (Kidding )
I really am baffled by what I saw, and I have only one working theory: Perhaps it was a partially deflated and falling weather balloon. I simply couldnt see enough detail to identify it. If anyone else saw it, or has any other ideas, let me know. This is only my second bona fide UFO sighting. However, let me be clear: My definition of a UFO is something that flies and that is unidentifiable by those who observe it. I DO NOT believe that extraterrestrials ever have or ever will visit planet Earth. My first UFO sighting was at night, of a greenish object visible in the west from Rush Valley. It was likely a flare of some kind in use at Dugway by the military, but since it was moving in the sky and I couldnt identify it voila! a UFO.
OK, now we can all go back to debating global warming.
Kim
No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.10 - Release Date: 3/10/2009 12:00 AM
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Very sneaky indeed! Erik, I'll try to find the drawing of the UFO we all saw the night of the lunar eclipse...Sep 26th, '96 if I recall? Bernson was finding Hale Bopp in his 25x100's when he spotted it. Dave On Mar 14, 2009, at 6:36 PM, Chuck Hards wrote:
Oh, Erik, that's low. Sneaking in a G.W. post in a UFO thread. Mighty sneaky, indeed! *;o) * On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 5:26 PM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
and in case any of you wanted any more on global warming history.
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Dave, I forgot they were 25x100's (I think of all big binocs as 20x80's), I drew it to. Yes, he was looking for Hale Bopp, I think I heard a gasp and he said you guys have to look at this. You are probably right about the date, the sighting did outshine the eclipse but it was a nice backdrop To all who wonder if it was a point of light... no, but it did have a sort of strobe light front and rear and definite structure. It was no jet. The conspiracy theories did fly when we got blocked by a train and had to flag down a railroad man to unhook the train where the road was. We drove along the track to the caboose. He was a nice guy but I am sure he did not know what to think of us. Erik Very sneaky indeed!
Erik, I'll try to find the drawing of the UFO we all saw the night of the lunar eclipse...Sep 26th, '96 if I recall? Bernson was finding Hale Bopp in his 25x100's when he spotted it.
Dave
On Mar 14, 2009, at 6:36 PM, Chuck Hards wrote:
Oh, Erik, that's low. Sneaking in a G.W. post in a UFO thread. Mighty sneaky, indeed! *;o) * On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 5:26 PM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
and in case any of you wanted any more on global warming history.
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I want to remind people that unmanned, robotic security/covert surveillance airships have been in service for years. There are probably some working the night skies of most large cities, as well as around military & government installations, private industry facilities, national borders and high-crime areas. Some of these are nearly 50 feet long, and almost completely silent. They are hangared in trailers, and are long gone by daylight. Here is just one example, of a company in the UK: http://www.skyships.co.uk/uavairships.htm
I don't know if it's a comforting thought that un-manned surveillance craft are roaming the skies although I freely admit it is a distinct possibility. Our government has always spied on its citizens. The famous Phoenix Lights sighting seemed to be an airship to me, a big balloon like your link refers to only triangular. Years ago I recall military plans to build a big airship for moving cargo, it was in Popular Science years ago for those that recall. I believe one of the proposed shapes was a large triangle. I've always wondered if one of these was ever built and witnessed flying over Phoenix. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 1:14 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] UFO alert! I want to remind people that unmanned, robotic security/covert surveillance airships have been in service for years. There are probably some working the night skies of most large cities, as well as around military & government installations, private industry facilities, national borders and high-crime areas. Some of these are nearly 50 feet long, and almost completely silent. They are hangared in trailers, and are long gone by daylight. Here is just one example, of a company in the UK: http://www.skyships.co.uk/uavairships.htm _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
It's more than a possibility. A few years ago, KSL TV ran a news story about these things, several spottings having been made over the Salt Lake valley. The ones in the news story were very dark, to reflect very little light, and very long. More like a cigar shape than a traditional blimp, supposedly for speed. And the demo tape I saw bore that out. It was very zippy, and flew at tree-top level almost silently. It's a Brave New World, and for better or worse, there's no going back. Whether private industry, the local constabulatory, or the federal government, Big Brother is here to stay. On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:09 AM, Robert Taylor <robtaylor3661@comcast.net>wrote:
I don't know if it's a comforting thought that un-manned surveillance craft are roaming the skies although I freely admit it is a distinct possibility.
I won't disagree. One of the first things that came to my mind regarding that UFO over SLC a few years back was a surveillance device of some type. It was as if some one wanted to listen in for a little while. There are two types of com on UFO sightings that meet your description, one is the famous "Cigar Shape" which a lot of people have claimed to see. This is the type that Jimmy Carter said he saw. The other is long slender "Rod" shaped object that is often not seen but captured on video. When the video is slowed down these will sometimes appear in a few frames, zipping through the video. These are long and thin and move at very high speed and show-up only in videos for just a few frames. I'm not aware that anyone has seen one visually. They literally zip through the image. In UFO folk-lore they are know simply as Rods. Whatever they are, they are real and have been captured many times in video. I'm afraid you're right about no going back. Big brother is getting a lot bigger. Bob -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+robtaylor3661=comcast.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+robtaylor3661=comcast.net@mailman.xmission.co m] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:21 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] UFO alert! It's more than a possibility. A few years ago, KSL TV ran a news story about these things, several spottings having been made over the Salt Lake valley. The ones in the news story were very dark, to reflect very little light, and very long. More like a cigar shape than a traditional blimp, supposedly for speed. And the demo tape I saw bore that out. It was very zippy, and flew at tree-top level almost silently. It's a Brave New World, and for better or worse, there's no going back. Whether private industry, the local constabulatory, or the federal government, Big Brother is here to stay.
participants (5)
-
Chuck Hards -
Dave Bennett -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Kim -
Robert Taylor