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UFO help needed!

well I will say this questioner is NOT a believer in aliens. He's just "what in the heck was that?" type of person. I get a LOT of "I know aliens aren't real but I saw this weird thing". Often what they want is some suggestions. No hard answers! Just suggestions.

People see weird stuff all the time in the sky. Oddly seasoned amatuer astronomers don't. But that's because they KNOW what "that odd blinking thing" in the sky is.
First, why do you want “hard” answers? We have observations whose characteristics defy mundane explanation but just because we don’t have any hard explanations does not mean the phenomena does not exist. Perhaps to get your "hard" answers we need research rather than denial and ridicule?

Second, astronomers do make observations they cannot explain (http://www.ufoevidence.org/Cases/CaseView.asp?section=Astronomer, http://www.scribd.com/doc/16805639/A-List-of-UFO-Sightings-by-Astronomers, http://www.ufocusnz.org.nz/content/NZ-Astronomer-UFO-Sightings/107.aspx, http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread553619/pg1, etc and so on…).
 
I'm sure this penis-waving contest is fascinating to those involved, but perhaps we could cut to the chase. Gawdzilla, a lot of people think your comment shows you had not read the OP. Rather than continuing with your half-arsed passive-aggressive insults, maybe you could tell us how your comment was actually an insightful response to the OP.
 
People see weird stuff all the time in the sky. Oddly seasoned amatuer astronomers don't. But that's because they KNOW what "that odd blinking thing" in the sky is.

I think over the years I have seen every major type of UFO and more than a few variations. I always thought someone should do a field observers guide to UFOs.

However I remember a thread on an astronomy site years ago, and every amateur has at least one good UFO or spooky story in them
 
The second one sounds a lot like a meteor shower. They can come in in waves from the same direction and skip on the atmosphere like skipping a rock on water. Of course their speed is crazy fast compared to a rock.
 
Also, from the meteor shower I saw, they looked the same size, brightness and colour of the stars behind them.
 
I think over the years I have seen every major type of UFO and more than a few variations. I always thought someone should do a field observers guide to UFOs.
That has been done numerous times. For example here (http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Field-Guide-Ufos/?isbn=9780380802654) and see a review here (http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1448.htm) and here (http://www.amazon.com/UFO-Encyclopedia-Phenomenon-Beginning-Set/dp/0780800974) and see a review here (http://www.strangemag.com/reviews/ufoencyclopedia.html).
 
I'm sure this penis-waving contest is fascinating to those involved, but perhaps we could cut to the chase. Gawdzilla, a lot of people think your comment shows you had not read the OP. Rather than continuing with your half-arsed passive-aggressive insults, maybe you could tell us how your comment was actually an insightful response to the OP.
It was indeed cigar shaped. But I never considered that possibility. It does seem to explain the erratic movement.
 
Well, I think this thread is a phenomenal example of the difference between a skeptic and a cynic. Any woo that claims that skeptics are a bunch of narrow minded people who automatically assume that something was not an Alien, should read this thread: Most people here have admittedly claimed that there's just not enough information to draw a conclusion, that more details about the sighting are necessary. Basically it's all about knowing that one doesn't know and that it's okay. Sometimes we just don't know. That doesn't imply "Well, duh! Then obviously it was an Alien. I mean, what else could it be?"
 
Well, I think this thread is a phenomenal example of the difference between a skeptic and a cynic. Any woo that claims that skeptics are a bunch of narrow minded people who automatically assume that something was not an Alien, should read this thread: Most people here have admittedly claimed that there's just not enough information to draw a conclusion, that more details about the sighting are necessary. Basically it's all about knowing that one doesn't know and that it's okay. Sometimes we just don't know. That doesn't imply "Well, duh! Then obviously it was an Alien. I mean, what else could it be?"
You've got it in one Ron. There is simply not enough quality information in the OP to decide what the observations were. Many have speculated mundane hypotheses, but they might as well have claimed ET for all the good it will do them or us in the understanding what occurred. To claim veracity in any explanation without the quality of information to enable a conclusion is "woo" and certainly not sceptical. It seems people are simply scared of "I don't know. I would need more information to come to any conclusion." And the reason why they are scared of that is because they erroneously see it opening the door for "woo" explanations (such as ET) - when in fact it closes the door on any explanation except "insufficient information".
 
Rramjet, no one is afraid of saying "I don't know." THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING THERE ISN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION TO COME TO A DEFINITE ANSWER. Please refrain from misrepresenting what people say. At best, you appear unable to understand what people are saying. At worst, you appear to be lying to support your own beliefs.

Now, many people have speculated mundane hypotheses for the sightings. Why? Because the things suggested actually exist. We know, for instance, that aeroplanes exist. All manner of evidence is available to prove aeroplanes exist. Therefore, when someone says "I saw some lights moving in the sky," it is reasonable to suggest it might have been an aeroplane. Aeroplanes move in the sky. Aeroplanes have lights on them. It is not reasonable to suggest an alien spacecraft might have been what was seen. We don't know what alien spacecraft look like. We don't know they exist. There is no evidence for their existence. Therefore they are not an acceptable explanation for lights in the sky. Do you understand, or will you be turning this into another of your multi-page testaments to your refusal to face reality?
 
I think over the years I have seen every major type of UFO and more than a few variations. I always thought someone should do a field observers guide to UFOs.

However I remember a thread on an astronomy site years ago, and every amateur has at least one good UFO or spooky story in them
.
Anyone that looks up will see a UFO at some time or other.
But usually the U part goes away with more inspection.
Those that aren't solved need better information.
The only one I've seen was real, made noise, and flew around for some time in daylight at Plant 42, late '70s.
I couldn't identify it, until my boss asked me which biplane (which this was) had flaps on both sets of wings.
The light lit.
Antonov AN-2.
Seems Northrop had acquired one for stealth testing.
Speaking of whom, their antenna test facility is out west of here on the south side of the Tehachapi mountains, visible just about anyplace south of it in the Antelope Valley for about 50 miles from any direction.
They have a 300 foot underground hangar there where the saucers fly from!
I'm reliably informed. :rolleyes:
 
Rramjet, no one is afraid of saying "I don't know." THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING THERE ISN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION TO COME TO A DEFINITE ANSWER. Please refrain from misrepresenting what people say. At best, you appear unable to understand what people are saying. At worst, you appear to be lying to support your own beliefs.
(*Shrugs*) Even when you agree with me you want to turn nasty with it. That is your prerogative I guess.

Now, many people have speculated mundane hypotheses for the sightings. Why? Because the things suggested actually exist. We know, for instance, that aeroplanes exist. All manner of evidence is available to prove aeroplanes exist. Therefore, when someone says "I saw some lights moving in the sky," it is reasonable to suggest it might have been an aeroplane. Aeroplanes move in the sky. Aeroplanes have lights on them.
Sure, you can speculate all you want about such things but you cannot therefore conclude that it was an airplane. The logic many here seem to be working on is ‘It might have been an airplane – therefore it was an airplane.’ And make no mistake, that is the intent behind such speculations here. It is to falsify the UFOs as ET explanation – nothing more, nothing less.

It is not reasonable to suggest an alien spacecraft might have been what was seen.
Why not? There is nothing in scientific knowledge that would rule out such an explanation. All we can do is determine if such an explanation is warranted on the evidence (just as we would with any other explanation – including airplanes). Of course ET is not warranted on the evidence – but then neither is an airplane. Quite simply there is not sufficient quality of information to positively conclude on any explanation. All we can do is state “I don’t know what it is because I don’t have enough information”.

We don't know what alien spacecraft look like. We don't know they exist. There is no evidence for their existence.
Well, there is circumstantial evidence for their existence and what they look like, but looks can be deceiving. While the circumstantial evidence might seem compelling in that regard, we still cannot be certain, so a positive conclusion about ET is not warranted on the evidence.

Therefore they are not an acceptable explanation for lights in the sky.
I agree, ET is not an acceptable explanation for lights in the sky. However, where there is sufficient quality information to determine that such lights in the sky defy mundane explanation (that is their characteristics do not fit with any mundane explanation we know of) then we can state that fact (that the lights in the sky defy mundane explanation). However, that does not mean that we have explained their cause - but just because we cannot explain something does not mean we cannot describe its characteristics.

Do you understand, or will you be turning this into another of your multi-page testaments to your refusal to face reality?
I could not have put it better myself.
 

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