Tag: Identified

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12-017-FB1 (Arlington, VA)

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droppedImage

Synopsis: On 06 June 2006, the witness of this investigation was sitting on a front porch and saw a cylinder-shaped UFO moving slow then fast. According to the witness, the UFO traveled in a straight pattern and was much lower than normal aircraft for that area.

Evidence Submitted: A sketch of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an FB1 – A fly-by of a UFO traveling in a straight line across the sky.

Investigation and Findings: Although the witness provided a sketch of the UFO, which is identical to many drawings found on the Internet, the witness of this investigation failed to respond to all requests for an interview or to provide additional information to clarify the initial report. Moreover, indices checks on the witness’ email account and associated websites indicated strong pareidolia and association with conspiracy groups, the occult and paranormal. The lack of cooperation and misdirection at times from the witness, moreover, lead investigators to close the case as a hoax.

Object Details: Hoax.

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12-003-MA1 (Lake Villa, IL)

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droppedImage

Synopsis: In the autumn of 2002, at sunset, the witness of this investigation was sitting outside and noticed a bright green light outside.  The witness went outside and saw a perfect metallic-like sphere flying straight and level with a luminescent green tail.  The object shedding sparks that were falling into a stand of trees about 300 yards distant.  The sparks took roughly four seconds to fall into the trees.  The object was reported to have had a shiny appearance like Mercury, and ripples were observed in the leading edge.  The witness observed the object until it disappeared out of sight over the horizon, but did not investigate the trees to look for residue or evidence of burns.

Evidence Submitted: A sketch of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an MA1 – a visual sighting of a UFO that traveled in a discontinuous trajectory, such as loops, quick turns, or vast changes in altitude. During the initial stages of this investigation, the investigators noted the witness has submitted UFO reports to MUFON and NUFORC

Investigation and Findings: This case had previously been reported to MUFON and NUFORC. However, additional information relevant to the investigation was not found.

Object Details: Likely a Meteor

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12-021-AN1 (Durham, NC)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis:  On 23 March 12, at 0122 hours, the witness of this investigation was walking along the street, looked up for a moment, and saw three very bright lights in the sky. According to the witness, the three lights stretched out slowly forming together into one. The lights then broke off and traveled out into the distance and were no longer in the sky.

Evidence Submitted: Photo of a UFO

Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an AN-1, an anomalous object that left no visible sign or traceable evidence. Initial report indicated a possible aircraft from a nearby military base.

Investigation and Findings:  The investigator interviewed the witness of this investigation and was deemed sincere and credible. The witness described the lights as lasers and orbs, but could not capture a good photograph due to the poor quality of the camera on the cell phone. After several interviews with the witness, the investigation then moved forward into researching government, military, and defense industry activities regarding lasers and plasma balls that react much like the lights reported by the witness. While researching Northrop Grumman, who have two facilities in the same area the witness saw the lights, investigators found a video very similar to what the witness provided purportedly recording plasma ball testing by Northrop Grumman. The witness was provided a copy of the video and agreed that the lights in the video was an exact match.  The investigation, therefore, was closed as resolved.

Object Details: The testing of laser technology from Northrop Grumman, a major defense contractor in the Durham, NC area. The company provides space, defense and electronics systems to an array of US government customers. Products include: military aircrafts, satellites for communications, science, weather, surveillance and high-energy lasers.

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12-076-FB1 (Los Angeles, CA)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 06 Jan 12, at 1830 hours, the witness of this investigation was driving through Los Angeles, CA and saw a UFO fly over the city. The witness used a cellphone to record a video of the UFO.

Evidence Submitted: A Video of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO case was opened as an FB1 – A fly-by of a UFO traveling in a straight line across the sky. Initial analysis of the video indicated the object was a helium balloon.

Investigation and Findings:  The investigators interview the witness of this investigation to ensure the video was authentic. An analysis of the video appears to show a helium balloon flying with the wind. A super zoom of the video, moreover, clearly showed a string attached to the bottom of the helium balloon.  The case was closed as resolved and identified.

Object Details: Helium Balloon

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12-002-FB1 (Baltimore, MD)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 6 Jan 12, at approximately 2100 hours, the witness of this investigation was returning to a hotel and saw a “strange object in the sky”. According to the witness, the object was circular, had two wings, and appeared to have a flickering amber light in its center. A second witness, who happened to be standing outside of the hotel, also saw the object in the sky. While the two witnesses discussed the object, another object, identical to the first, appeared and traveled west until it was no longer in sight.

Evidence Submitted: A sketch of the UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an FB1, a fly-by of a UFO that traveled in a straight line across the sky. Given the object of the sketch displayed a “flickering candle” and the object traveled west along with the wind, a type of Chinese lantern was likely the culprit.

Investigation and Findings:  The investigators traveled to Baltimore, MD and interviewed the first witness of this investigation. The sketch provided by the witness appeared to have a flame flickering in the center of the object. The object, according to the witness, moved in the same direction of the wind and at a speed consistent with the weather for that night. The object, therefore, was more than likely a type of Chinese lantern or similar object.

Object Details: A type of Chinese lantern.

12-031-AN1 (Great Falls, VA)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 02 March 12, at 2321 hours, an infrared webcam took several photos of a UFO hovering in a backyard. According to the owner of the webcam, the UFO must have been silent because the event did not wake up the family.

Evidence Submitted: An infrared photo of a light in the background.

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. Initial analysis of the report indicated the range of the infrared camera was too short for an aerial object in the sky to trigger it. More than likely, the camera was triggered by something closer to the home and the light in the background was from the moon.

Investigation and Findings:  On 29 March 12, the investigators traveled to Great Falls, VA and interviewed the witness of this investigation. The investigators, along with the witness, took a tour of the backyard, specifically near the area where the webcam was pointing. The investigators noticed a very large hole in a fence and deer feces directly in front of the webcam. Given that the range of the webcam’s sensor was short, it is likely that an animal triggered the camera. The camera then took a poor-quality photo of the moon in the background. The investigators also noted the moon was at Waxing Gibbous, with an illumination of 66%, on the night of this incident.

Object Details: Animal triggered the camera, which took a photo of the moon.

12-004-FB1 (Baltimore, MD)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 31 Dec 11, at 2345 hours, three separate witnesses were celebrating the New Year’s Eve in downtown Baltimore, MD. While smoking cigarettes outside in the yard, the witnesses saw three orange lights in the sky shaped in a pyramid. The three lights slowly rotated clockwise, paused briefly and started rotating counterclockwise. The lights split off and descended into the distance in three separate directions.

Evidence Submitted: A photo of the three orange orbs and video footage taken from a handheld camcorder.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an FB1, a fly-by of a UFO that traveled in a straight line across the sky. Given that the event occurred only several minutes before New Years Eve, and the event occurred in a large city, the initial indication was that the three lights were some type of celebratory fireworks or Chinese lanterns.

Investigation and Findings:  The investigators traveled to Baltimore, MD and interviewed the three witnesses. The witnesses seemed sincere and appeared to be truthful. One of the witnesses described the orbs as if there was “a lit flame flickering within the orbs”. During the investigation, the investigators traveled to the area where the three orbs disappeared, but found no ground traces to suggest the orbs were fireworks. A weather analysis for the time and date the orbs were sighted indicated the wind was blowing in the same direction the orbs traveled. Given the description of the orbs, the direction they traveled, the fact it was New Years Eve, and the orbs lowly “turned off” the investigators concluded the objects were some type of celebratory Chinese lanterns.

Object Details: Chinese lanterns.

12-020-FB1 (Hidden Valley, CA)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On/about June 2009, while taking photos of flowers in a garden, the witness of this investigation inadvertently took two photographs of a “fast moving UFO”.

Evidence Submitted: Two photos of a UFO.

Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an FB1, a fly-by of a UFO that traveled in a straight line across the sky.

Investigation and Findings:  The investigators conducted multiple interviews with the witness of this investigation. The witness provided the investigators with the original photographs, which were taken with a Kodak CX7530. The investigators extracted the EXIF data and examined the objects closely in the images. The analytical conclusion strongly indicated the streaks were close to the camera and thus could not be a contrail. Subsequent photo analysis concluded the streak was a piece of spider silk in the foreground, catching the sunlight.

Object Details: Silk from a Spider Web.

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12-008-AN1 (Tempe, AZ)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 18 July 10, at approximately 2000 hours, the witness of this investigation was standing on a 2nd floor patio and noticed a strange object hovering about 200 feet over the City of Tempe, AZ. The witness described the object as a warm white and orange jellyfish. The object, moreover, morphed in color and appeared as though it was a circular membrane. The object hovered for approximately 15 minutes until it moved slowly from East to West.

Evidence Submitted: Sketch 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. Initial analysis of the report indicated a likely natural phenomenon due to severe thunderstorms on the same date and time the witness observed the UFO.

Investigation and Findings: The investigators traveled to Phoenix, AZ and interviewed the witness of this investigation. During the interview the witness provided the investigators with a sketch of the UFO. Additionally, the investigators also learned that the witness was drinking alcohol when the UFO was spotted. The lead investigator, however, noted the witness was sincere and credible. During the weather research and analysis portion of the investigation, the data indicated the witness observed a convergence of several natural phenomena: Rayleigh scattering during sunset, high temperatures, and severe thunderstorm converging with Altocumulus Castellanus formations.

Object Details: When sunlight passes through a thick layer of atmosphere and dust particles at sunset, blue color is scattered by Rayleigh Scattering and only red-to-orange color remains. The clouds reflect these unscattered red/orange rays and appear in that color. More importantly, during high temperatures and an approaching thunderstorm the orange clouds appear even more prominent.

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12-019-AN1 (Atlantic Ocean)

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droppedImage_2

Synopsis: On 05 Jan 12, at approximately 1841 hours, the witness of this investigation was onboard the cruise ship MSC Poesia, which was underway and heading back to Florida. The witness, who was in cabin #11151, went outside on the balcony to take a photo of the sunset. Upon reviewing the photo, the witness claimed a UFO could be seen in the photo.

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 explained that the UFO was not personally observed while taking photos of the sky – a common indicator of a lens flares. In an effort to positively identify the object as a lens flare, 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 hits 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”.