Expert explains ‘most common’ UFO sightings
An astronomer has explained the most common phenomenon that is most likely to be confused with a UFO.
Bob King, better known as AstroBob, has given his opinion on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), insisting that lenticular clouds, reflections and sky lanterns have been mistaken for alien spacecraft, revealing that there are many everyday events that could lead someone to think they have encountered extraterrestrials.
Writing for Sky and Telescope, Bob admitted that he loved reading about UFOs as a child and even created a fake photo of himself by throwing a trash can lid into the air and catching it on camera.
He also revealed that he once had a cold encounter with a man who showed him a video of what he claimed was a UFO, but Bob pointed out that it was a very bright star in the sky.
Bob wrote about the incident: “A middle-aged gentleman once attended one of the meetings of my local astronomy club.
“He excitedly explained that he had taken a photo of a UFO and wanted us to see it with our own eyes. He said that it must be a UFO because of its brightness, round shape and rapid pulse.
“As soon as the video began, it was clear that the ‘UFO’ was a bright star, moving from unsteady hands and rhythmically moving in and out of focus as the camera’s autofocus struggled to keep the object sharp. After a few questions about the time and direction of the shot, it was clear that it had captured the star Sirius…
“Regardless of our explanations, he was convinced it had to be a UFO… He took the video and stormed out.”
Bob went on to explain some of the most common things confused with UFOs, adding that Sirius is one of the “most frequently reported UFO sightings, along with Venus.”
He explained that aircraft trails can be mistaken for spacecraft as well as lenticular clouds, and wrote: “These UFO-like clouds form when fast-moving air blows over mountains or hills, creating ripples in the atmosphere similar to the ripples created when you drop a pebble into a lake.
“Circle shapes can be both beautiful and evocative. Other atmospheric phenomena that have been confused with UFOs include sun dogs and related halo events.”
Bob also pointed out that flashing lights on airplanes, trails of rocket launches, auroras, and even reflections from indoor lights can create the illusion of a UFO.
He added: “Internal reflections of bright light sources – car headlights, ceiling fixtures – in multi-panel glass can appear single, double or multi-image, especially at dusk, as if the source were hovering in the distance.”
