Yes!-- you can photograph and track the ISS!   The point  there was that an object traveling at 18,000mph at 10-40,000 ft would appear essentially as a streak and cross the sky in less than a second, not that you can't track satellites, in response to another misunderstanding....The original point is that an object traveling at 1,000mph to 5,000 mph (common radar-clocked speeds for UFOs) is a tough photographic target at aircraft altitudes.

  As far as who gets 'honored' with a UFO sighting, keep in mind there are 300 million Americans.  there are about 1,000 reported sightings a year (US), and this may represent 10,000 sightings total, maybe more.  Still this is a very low number, and makes the chances of seeing a UFO fairly small, but better than the lottery.  

  So, I don't base their existence or veracity on my experience, and I don't recommend it for others, if they've seen a UFO (or, without background information, if they think they have seen them...), or not.  Referring to the literature and accumulated accounts is much to be preferred in either case, as far as being informed.

  Regarding Terry's earlier statement implying that the military is simply not revealing technology to the public--(true!)-  The internal investigations by the air force and pentagon of their programs ( 1950-1953) came to the conclusion that no department was working on such technology, nor were the Soviets ("highly unlikely"). This audit had to be done due to the compartmentalization of the military, and weapons tech in particular.  Trust me, our military peoople WANTED it to be ours!!  This phase is documented in the 1950s sources and Clark.  You can read the reports and/or the witness testimony.

Let me point out something I feel requires immediate attention.

Below is a  quote from the Astronomy.com Web Site Usage Policy. Please take the time to carefully read it. In particular the part I underlined. 

 CODE OF CONDUCT
Also keep in mind that we will delete any post that contains the following:

1. FOUL LANGUAGE. The use of swear words is strictly prohibited. Even if you spell an inappropriate word wrong or use symbols to mask the word, it still means the same thing. ANY POST CONTAINING WORDS THAT ARE DEEMED FOUL BY THE ASTRONOMY MAGAZINE STAFF WILL BE DELETED AND NOTED IN YOUR USER FILE. We reserve the right to lock your forum account should you use foul language at any time.

If you have any further questions about these policies you can contact the web site administration..

Up to this point we have been lenient on this for most words. However I have noticed a couple posts that have taken it a little too far. If you can't figure out a more appropriate word to include in the sentence then you probably should not be writing it.
Please keep in mind this is a public forum open to people of all ages and backgrounds. It doesn't take much to figure what is intended as an inappropriate and offensive word.

Have A Nice __________

cyberpatzer:

  Regarding Terry's earlier statement implying that the military is simply not revealing technology to the public--(true!)-  The internal investigations by the air force and pentagon of their programs ( 1950-1953) came to the conclusion that no department was working on such technology, nor were the Soviets ("highly unlikely"). This audit had to be done due to the compartmentalization of the military, and weapons tech in particular.  Trust me, our military peoople WANTED it to be ours!!  This phase is documented in the 1950s sources and Clark.  You can read the reports and/or the witness testimony.

I'm sorry if I was unclear.  What I meant was that if we agree that the military keeps secret technology, we can not expect them to reveal its existence just to debunk UFOs.

Correct. 

Pluto has no moons. There are no UFO's. Geeez....what are we looking for?

I suppose that one chance........of seeing something only a few other gazers will also see.

Spacer:

De-e-e-e-p breath.

I know this is anathema to most of you.  The rational (who I think predominate here) will ignore it and the religious (who are a strong minority) will see it as irrelevant, but I’m hoping there are enough open minds out there to consider possibilities.

Is this on-topic?  Is it a legitimate concern for those interested in astronomy?  Well, considering that one of the reasons we study other stars is that we hope to discover other life, it certainly seems to be.

Is this frivolous?  Considering the number of UFO sightings and the tortured history of such in the US, I don’t think so --- as long as we all understand that UFO has a literal meaning: Unidentified Flying Object.  Period.  Everything you see in the sky that you can’t identify is a UFO.  Maybe you see a bright planet, like Venus or Jupiter, in an otherwise dark sky, and it seems to move, and you don’t know what it is.  That, to you, is a UFO.

To someone else, it is completely explainable.

I want to put those who see objects in the sky that they can’t identify in contact with those who can --- and I want to filter out the rest.

Why?  Because we may, in fact, be visited by beings from other worlds --- or we may be observing phenomena of legitimate interest to science.  To be sure, alien spacecraft would be of great interest, but as Carl Sagan said extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.  What many perceive as alien spacecraft may be perfectly ordinary phenomena.

So, have you see anything REALLY strange?

Hi Spacer

I applaud you for bringing the subject to this forum.

I;m an amateur astronomer,have been for 25 years.I think the 'UFO' phenomenon deserves serious atenttion,and is actually very relevant to astronomy.I have found so,as i've seen quite a few whilst observing-and not observing.I regularly observe the sky,now,for anything 'unusual'.

It's very late my time,and i'm too tired to contnue! But good for you to bring this up.

I can't believe how some people dismiss the chance that life is out there,even that there is only the 'slightest chance' they may visit earth.Question is,how does any human know-how can any human be sure,that beings haven't visited us for millenia? ''why haven't they said HELLO'' i here them cry...''land on the whitehous lawn'' bla bla bla.We'll,THAT is to understand the intentions/agendas of other worldly beings.There isn't anything unique about this planet,or star system.It is becoming clear that there are planets around most stars.New technology,in the near future we hope, will be able to analyze the spectra of other planets around other stars,something that i am fascinated in.

Cheers

Welcome to the forum.

I caution you to be careful about your facts:

It is becoming clear that there are planets around most stars.

... you get that idea from what? A couple hundred exoplanets discovered thus far does not represent a groundswell of evidence that most stars have planets. It is ample evidence that some stars have planets.

Thanks.

The study of exoplanets is still in its infancy,and with approaching 300 EP's,there is every reason to think (yep,not fact yet i admit) that planetary systems are much more common than we thought 15 years ago...but yes,i admit i was wrong to state it 'becoming clear'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5325476.stm

cyberpatzer:

 Yes!-- you can photograph and track the ISS!  

  As far as who gets 'honored' with a UFO sighting, keep in mind there are 300 million Americans.  there are about 1,000 reported sightings a year (US), and this may represent 10,000 sightings total, maybe more.  Still this is a very low number, and makes the chances of seeing a UFO fairly small, but better than the lottery.  

 

I have had 25 years sky observing,and have seen some very unusual 'phenomena'-one of which i filmed for 50 minutes in daylight.Many sightings remain a real challenge to explain.I have no explanation for what i have seen myself,on occasion.I have seen some odd things that i CAN explain (satellite travelling across the moon whilst observing a saturn occultation,huge bollide slowly moving and exploding acrosss the sky).

Cheers

comos111:

Hi Spacer

I applaud you for bringing the subject to this forum.

Spacer has not participated in astronomy.com forums for over a year.  He was abducted by the same extraterrestrials responsible for global warming.

Centaur:

comos111:

Hi Spacer

I applaud you for bringing the subject to this forum.

Spacer has not participated in astronomy.com forums for over a year.  He was abducted by the same extraterrestrials responsible for global warming.

Yep,i see his post was very old after i replied.

You believe in abduction accounts then,centaur? Surprising.

Global warming? Thats just caused by a natural cycle involving the Sun's output..not carbon emmisions,IMO

comos111:

Global warming? Thats just caused by a natural cycle involving the Sun's output..not carbon emmisions,IMO

Okay, it's your opinion. It is not a consensus among researchers that global warming is the result of a solar cycle. There likewise is plenty of debate about carbon emissions.

The difference is that if we have the personal and political will we can do something about carbon emissions, but zip-squat about solar cycles.

comos111:

Global warming? Thats just caused by a natural cycle involving the Sun's output..not carbon emmisions,IMO

There is hardly a true scientist who will argue that carbon emissions have little to do with global warming.  Yes, other potential contributing factors must also be examined.  It’s unfortunate that so many people view this subject through political eyes rather than scientific ones, thus making them rather steadfast in their opinions.  Global warming and carbon emissions are important matters that must be discussed by those with the influence to potentially do something about them, and acted upon if deemed necessary.

My My! One little satirical remark and this thread has taken a new direction.  Don't you think one on-going discussion concerning this matter is enough.

Have A Nice _________

Lucky for us, we have the worst of both worlds in one topic.  

Sorry,i was being slightly tongue in cheek.I haven't formed a rock steady opinion,BUT having said that i don't think that solar fluctuations can be-or should be ruled out of the equation.

If only the you know who big powers that be would reduce their emissions,think of the world instead of their greed and power eh.

--- to the email i recieved-every word of my responses to those in question were justified.My actions was justified,-given the unecessary insulting undertones of one or two,not all i hasten to add.There was politeness,which i ackowledged.

I know how uncomfortable 'paranormal' subjects are for some people-especially to 'scientifically minded' people.Yet I AM just that.

 I do not feel some of the reposnses i recieved were justified,but of an assuming nature-that i was a 'true believer' of CT theories,which i am not.Thats all i have to say on the matter.

--------------------------------------------- -------------------------------

Anyway,UFO's.=unidentified flying objects.They are witnessed by all sections of the community The UFO phenomenon is a fully justified area of research.. ie not to be pigeon holed as 'fairies' etc which have very little anedotal evidence.

I am a planetary enthusiast,primarily interests are Jupiter,Saturn and Mars.I do have interest in the deep sky also.My fave's are the orion nebula,dumbell nebula (M27),M13,M31 (etc!). #It always gives me a wonderful feeling when looking at Jupiter and its 4 main sat's.I love the transits,eclipses.

My interest in the sky goes beyond the telescope-my eyes are freed from the concentration of simply looking through the eyepiece,and looking at the sky in general,which is possibly why i have witnessed some unusual sights,both dasy and night.I am not given to fantasy,i am no different to anybody on this forum.I'm very down to Earth,and sceptical.It's too easy for certain people with certain attitudes to say 'aaarrghh,nonsense supernatural' etc,but i do think this is simply a dessire to turn a blind eye to what people in ALL sections of society are witnessing.There is such a stigma attached to this subject,thanks to frauds which blite almost every subject on Earth!

I encourage any astronomers to report their sightings,anonymously if they feel they have to,on this forum or on the main UFO websites.Remember,there have been many astronomers that have witnessed phenomena that cannot be explained..not to suggest its aliens etc,just that it is of great interest to many people who accept we may not be the only life on this entire cosmos.

i agree with kratos i think there is life out there but i don't think we will ever be able to meet them if we can't reach them wherever they may be how would they reach us? its just too far isn't it?

ziggy

If by chance you're still interested, or you're new to the forums just joining this discussion and have a little time your hands, please set a little of that time aside to read through the numerous pages of this thread starting with post #1. 
Once you finally reach the most recent posts you might just find much of everything said has been said repeatedly.  In addition, you will find the same repetition in other thread discussions throughout these forums on the same subject(s). 
Utilize the Community Search to the right of your screen, you will be directed to the numerous replies and discussions on UFOs and or the likelihood of extra terrestrial intelligent life. 

Before you make a contribution to this thread, first take the time to ensure what you have to say isn't just beating a dead horse. 

I'm sure once you have read through the replies on this subject you will see the monotony here. You will also realize the same might just hold true with other topics of discussion that have been quite active lately..

 

Have A Nice _____________