Author: Director

Interim Director Aerial Phenomenon Investigations

11-002-CE1 (Columbia, MD)

  By

droppedImage

Synopsis: On 09 Sept 2011, at approximately 1900hrs, a couple traveling on Route 32 from Washington, DC to Baltimore, MD saw “a strange craft” they could not explain. Initially, the couple believed the craft was an array of balloons tied together on a flat platform. According to the couple, the craft’s appearance initially reminded them of “large Mickey Mouse ears”. As the couple got closer to the craft, however, they could clearly see it was not a balloon because the craft was floating level and not bobbing or wobbling. In an effort to avoid a traffic accident, the couple decided to exit Route 32 via the 14a ramp. Once off the ramp, they stopped their car on the Little Patuxent Parkway and monitored the craft as it floated across the highway about 100 feet above them. The craft continued to travel west for five minutes until it was too far away for the couple to continue monitoring it. The couple provided the following description of the craft: The craft was moving very slowly and silent; was flat on the bottom; had a bunch of square protrusions based on the platform; the protrusions were arranged in a manner that made it impossible to tell if they were all one or many separate ones; the protrusions appeared as if they were an array of black geometric blocks stacked on top of each other; the craft was about 4 feet high and 4 feet across; had a 4ft pipe antennae pointed downward; and had a purposeful flight characteristic, as if it were a probe traveling along.

Evidence Submitted: Sketch

Initial Action: Case opened as an CE1.

Investigation and Findings: Investigative efforts were exhausted. Case was closed.

Object Details: Unidentified

12-029-AN1 (Marseille, France)

  By

droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 21 April 12, at 1658 hours, the witness of this investigation was vacationing on a beach near Marseille, France and noticed many lenticular clouds over the nearby mountains. The witness took several photos of the clouds with a mobile phone and, while reviewing the photos, noticed a black orb-like UFO in all of the photos.

Evidence Submitted: Five photos of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an AN1 – an anomaly that left no lasting physical effects, such as lights in the sky and similar phenomena. A preliminary analysis of the photo indicated the UFO was more than likely dirt on the camera’s interior optics.

Investigation and Findings: The witness of this investigation did not speak English. Therefore, after consultation with Ovni France, it was determined that the witness did not see the UFO in the sky while taking the photos. The UFO was noticed later while reviewing the photos. During the photo analysis, the investigators noticed that regardless of where the camera was pointed or what zoom factor was used, the UFO was always positioned in the same location on the photo. By applying a grid pattern on all five photos, the analysis indicated the UFO was positioned on the same location on all the photos. Investigators, moreover, conducted a cross examination of the witness’ photos with several other photos taken with known dirt on the camera sensor. The results of the investigation concluded the UFO was dirt on the camera’s internal optics.

Object Details: Dust or dirt on a camera’s sensor will show up as small gray or black spots in photos. More often than not, the spots will show up the most in portions of an image that contain sky or solid white areas. (Investigator Note: dust or dirt on the camera lens will not appear on the photo due to the distance between the rear element and the camera sensor).

12-012-AN1 (Waldorf, MD)

  By

droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 15 July 11, at approximately 1730 hours, the witness of this UFO investigation was traveling home from work. While at a stoplight, the witness used a cell phone to take a photo of a rainbow in horizon. While reviewing the photos, the witness noticed two red orbs “in front of the rainbow”.

Evidence Submitted: A photo of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an AN1 – an anomaly that left no lasting physical effects, such as lights in the sky and similar phenomena. A preliminary analysis of the photo indicated the UFO was more than likely a reflection of the car’s interior dashboard lights.

Investigation and Findings: An interview with the witness indicated the photo was taken inside the vehicle with the windows raised. The witness, moreover, did not notice the two red orbs prior to taking the photo, an indication that the objects were likely a reflection. After numerous attempts to replicate the two red orbs, the investigators were able to replicate the event. The two red orbs, therefore, were a reflection from dashboard lights inside the car.

Object Details: Specular reflection is the mirror-like reflection of light from a surface, in which light from a single incoming direction is reflected into a single outgoing direction. In this case, the instrument lights from the dashboard reflected off the glass window.

12-052-FB1 (Huntington, MD)

  By

droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 04 June 12, at 2237 hours, the witness of this investigation observed “a starlike object moving in the night”. The object traveled across the sky from North to South for approximately three to ten seconds before disappearing. The witness also reported the object made no noise or unusual maneuvers, and was about the same brightness as a star.

Evidence Submitted: A sketch of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as a FB1, a fly-by of a UFO traveling in a straight line across the sky. A preliminary analysis of the UFO description and sketch indicated the UFO was more than likely a man-made satellite in Low Earth Orbit.

Investigation and Findings: On 05 Aug 12, a team of investigators traveled to Huntington, MD and interviewed the witness of this UFO sighting. The witness described the UFO as a starlike object traveling from North to South until is disappeared over the horizon. The witness also pointed to the area in the sky where the object was observed, which was calculated at 42° above the horizon. After the interview, investigators conducted indices checks on satellite tracking databases and identified the UFO as space junk, more specifically, the Cosmos 1733 Rocket in Low Earth Orbit. The Cosmos 1733 Rocket passed over the witness’ location on the same date the UFO was observed (04 June 12) and at the same time (2238 hours). The Cosmos 1733, moreover, was traveling in the same direction (North to South) as reported by the witness.

Object Details: The Cosmos 1733 Rocket (US Space Command Catalog No. 16611) was a Soviet ELINT (Electronic and Signals Intelligence) satellite launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on 20 Feb 86. The satellite remains in Low Earth Orbit with an apogee of 552 km and a perigee of 539 km.

Annapolis man wants to take a scientific look at UFOs .

  By

50a27910e002d.image

November 13, 2013

By Alex Jackson, The Maryland Gazette

Antonio Paris isn’t your average UFO fanatic.

The 41-year-old Annapolis man is a former U.S. Army counterintelligence officer and Department of Defense special agent. He was awarded a Bronze Star for combat operations in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A self-described skeptic, Paris has started a UFO investigations team, filmed and released a documentary on Area 51, and has spoken at UFO conventions. He has also written a book set for release in December. Read more at The Maryland Gazette

UFO investigations in U.K. provided “no valuable defense output”

  By

June 21, 2013

By Sharon Hill, Doubtful News

The government DOES try to address UFO sightings but finds they aren’t worth pursuing. Why did the U.K. UFO reporting center close? For a similar reason why the U.S. version closed. It was not helpful. In a briefing for the then defence minister, Bob Ainsworth, in November 2009 a civil servant, Carl Mantell of the RAF’s Air Command, suggested the MoD should try to significantly reduce the UFO work. He said it was “consuming increasing resource, but produces no valuable defence output”. Read more at Doubful News.

API sets sights on shaping future of Ufology

  By ,

June 19, 2013

By Jack Brewer, Examiner

The Aerial Phenomenon Investigations Team is making a bid to take research of unidentified flying objects to another – more credible – level. Popularly known as API, the Md.-based organization is poised to conduct and publish investigations, host public events and, according to founder and director Antonio Paris, apply some science to the subject of UFOs. Mr. Paris agreed to field some questions from ‘Orlando Paranormal Examiner’, and his emailed statements were received today. Read more at The Examiner.

12-055-MA4 (Richmond, VA)

  By

droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 6 Aug 12, at 1900 hours, the witness of this investigation was outside on a balcony and noticed a cloud shaped “like a flying saucer”. The witness, who submitted several photos of these “cloudships”, also reported extraterrestrials were trying to warn [the witness] of “Earth’s impeding doom”.

Evidence Submitted: 12 photos of various Cloud-Ship UFOs.

aInitial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an MA4 – UFO activity, such as maneuvers, accompanied by a change in the observer’s perception of reality. A preliminary analysis of the photo indicated the UFO was more than likely a type of cloud.

Investigation and Findings:  During the initial witness interview the investigator noticed the witness displayed signs of pareidolia and insisted the extraterrestrials where “trying to hide their spaceships by camouflaging themselves as clouds”. Several follow-up interviews with the witness further indicated a deep belief that an “extraterrestrial invasion was imminent”. However, an analysis of historical weather for the Richmond, VA area, specifically during the date and time the photo was captured, indicated overcast with occasional showers. It is more than likely, therefore, that the witness took a photo of a Cumulus Humilis cloud.

Object Details: The Cumulus Humilis cloud is a low altitude cloud that can take many shapes and forms. It is a heap cloud with flat basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development appears like a tower. These types of clouds indicate instability to the layering of air with appropriate convection or turbulence.

12-057-FB1 (Grimsby, UK)

  By

droppedImage

Synopsis: On 10 June 12, at 2300 hours, the witness of this investigation used a webcam to capture a photo of “a strange UFO” in the vicinity of Grimsby, UK. The UFO was captured on a Forscam infrared webcam mounted on the roof of the witness’ home.

Evidence Submitted: Four photos of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as a FB1, a fly-by of a UFO traveling in a straight line across the sky. A preliminary analysis of the photo indicated the UFO was more than likely an insect.

Investigation and Findings: Indices checks on several UFO-related databases, including the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), yielded no information relevant to this investigation. Additional research on several cryptozoology websites subsequently identified the unidentified object captured on the webcam as an insect. Moreover, an array of additional photos of flying insects matched the photo provided by the witness of this investigation.

Object Details: In cryptozoology and outdoor photography, rods (sometimes known as “skyfish” or “solar entities”) are elongated artifacts produced by cameras that inadvertently capture several of a flying insect’s wingbeats. Videos of rod-shaped objects moving quickly through the air were claimed by some to be extraterrestrial life forms or small UFOs, but subsequent experiments showed that these rods appear in film because of an optical illusion/collusion in interlaced video recording.

12-046-AN1 (Jakarta, Indonesia)

  By


droppedImage

Synopsis: On 07 July 12, at 1400 hours, the witness of this investigation was taking photos of the sky with a mobile phone. While reviewing the photos, the witness noticed a strange object in one of the photos. The witness submitted the photo to The Aerial Phenomenon Investigations Team for analysis.

Evidence Submitted: Photo of a UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an AN1 – an anomaly that left no lasting physical effects, such as lights in the sky and similar phenomena. A preliminary analysis of the video indicated the UFO was more than likely a Catadioptric Lens Flares.

Investigation and Findings: During the interview, the witness claimed the UFO was not personally observed when taking the photos of the sky – a common indicator of a lens flare. Analysis of the photo also indicated the Sun was within the frame of view, which indicated the likely source of the lens flare.  In an effort to positively identify the object as a lens flare, the investigators obtained the original photo and applied standard cross-section analysis. The analysis of the photo indicated the anomaly intersected with the sun inside the frame of view.

Object Details: Lens flares are created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hit the camera’s film or digital sensor. The lens flare often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, giving the appearance of a “flying disk or saucer”.