Ufology

Birth of the ufology

The ufology appeared in the years 1950, at the same time as the mediatization of the observation of Kenneth Arnold and the Incident of Roswell, translating the need at certain people to include/understand the phenomenon and to get information about it. Other businesses, as the disturbing testimony of the crew of a flight of United Airlines reporting that nine objects in the shape of disc would have escorted them above Idaho in the evening of July 4th, 1947 or the death of the captain Mantell, whose plane was crushed by continuing an UFO, contributed to make take these mysterious observations with the serious one. In spite of a tough urban legend, the incident of Roswell did not have, in 1947, that little repercussion, because the history of occupants found in the remains shaped only in the years 1980. The first interpretation of the phenomenon of the saucers was that they were secret terrestrial machines (AVNI: " not-identified flying Weapon "). However, since 1950, with the first three books devoted to the saucers, the idea appeared that they were extraterrestrial machines.

Associations of study

Very many associations throughout the world are interested in the UFO. So some are not reliable, even post their sectarianism, others on the other hand are serious. Among them:

the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), international association of scientists founded in 1973 by the astronomer Josef Allen Hynek;
the north-eastern Committee of the groups ufologic (CNEGU), French-speaking group ufologic which works from a point of view skeptic, more particularly within the framework of the model sociopsychologic;

French association COMETA, Committee for in-depth studies, writer of a report/ratio on the UFOs: the Report/ratio COMETA, given in 2000 to Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin. The Lieutenant-colonel Pierre Bayle, communications director of the IHEDN, however explained that the institute has nothing to do with the report/ratio and that the positions taken in this one engage only the writers. This report/ratio did not achieve its goal (to sensitize the public authorities with the phenomenon) because it was published by VSD , which discredited it. It is about a study written by members of the Institute of the high studies of national defense (IHEDN) and prefaced by the Norlain general, old directing of the IHEDN. Jean-Jacques Velasco, ex-director of the SEPRA, also collaborated in it. In a first part, this report/ratio is satisfied to quote some proven cases of observations of UFOs which could not have been explained rationally and some cases of observations of UFOs having been elucidated. The second part exposes the various assumptions of research in France and abroad on the subject. The third part, as for it, analyzes the political consequences and strategic phenomenon. Notable thing, this report/ratio concludes with the quasi unquestionable physical reality of completely unknown flying objects. and The extraterrestrial assumption, deduce the authors from them from the report/ratio, is the best scientific assumption by far; it is certainly not proven in a categorical way, but there exists in its favor of strong presumptions, and if it is exact, it is large consequences. Belong to the association COMETA, chaired by the Letty general: Michel Algrin (doctor d' État in political sciences, lawyer at the court), Pierre Bescon (general engineer of the armament), Denis Blancher (police chief of the national police force to the ministry for the Interior), Jean Dunglas (doctor-engineer, honorary general engineer of the agricultural engineering and National Forestry Commission), Bruno the Monk (general of the air force), Mrs. Francoise Lépine (foundation for the studies of defense), Christian Marchal (research director, chief engineer of the Mines to ONERA), Marc Merlo (admiral) and Alain Orszag (doctor d' État in physical sciences, general engineer of the armament).
the Committee for Skeptical Inquiryl (in the past Committee for the Scientific Investigation off Claims off the Paranormal or CSICOP) is an American organization which is devoted to the criticism of the “paranormaux” phenomena or of disciplines which he judges pseudo-scientists like the ufology, parapsychology, the cryptozoology or homeopathy. It is about one of the most important organizations of the movement contemporary skeptic, with the Skeptics Society . The CSICOP was founded in 1976, by the philosopher Paul Kurtz and of the members as eminent as Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, James Randi, Martin Gardner. It regularly publishes a newspaper, the Skeptical Inquirer (“the investigator skeptic”). A commission, which includes/understands for example Robert Sheaffer (or Philip J. Klass of alive sound), concentrates particularly on the phenomenon UFO;
the Groupe of study of the air phenomena (GEPA) was a French association of study of the phenomenon UFO, founded in 1962. It gathered French scientists and soldiers. It was chaired between 1964 and 1970 by the Chassin general. It was first great French scientific ufologic association. The GEPA carried out surveys near the witnesses, and published detailed reports of them. In addition, association published fifty and one numbers of the bulletin Space Phénomènes and two except series. This association could stick the collaboration of scientists external like Claude Poher (of the CNES) or Jean-Pierre Petit (of CNRS). In 1977, association pronounced its dissolution, the CNES having created an official scientific organization of study of the UFOs: the GEPAN;
the Belgian society of study of the space phenomena (SOBEPS), founded in 1971, is a Belgian scientific association of study of the UFOs chaired by the chemist Michel Bougard. It militates for a scientific study, rigorous and without a priori of the phenomenon UFO. It became famous for its official collaboration with the Belgian army at the time of the vague Belgian.

Systems of classification of the observations

Classification of Hynek

Josef Allen Hynek (1910-1986) was an astronomer and American ufologist. It is famous to have been to advise scientist of the project Blue Book between 1951 and 1969. The “classification of Hynek” is a method of classification of the observations of nonascribable UFOs, after investigation, with a hoax, a hallucination or a mistake. It at summer proposed in 1972 by Josef Allen Hynek, in its book the Experiment of the UFOs: a scientific study ( The UFO Experiment: In Scientific Study in English).

The system is the following, of at least common case more banal:

night Lights ( NL ): (S) pilot (S) the voi (in) T right one or more lights in the night sky with more than 150 meters of distance, which appear abnormal to them.
diurnal Discs ( DD ): (S) pilot (S) the voi (in) T a remote UFO. As opposed to what the name can make think, the UFO in question inevitably does not have the shape of a disc. One qualifies DD any UFO considering the day at a distance higher than 150 meters (Observation of Tananarive for example).
Radar-optics ( RV ): the UFO is seen at the same time into visual and on one or more radar screens, as in the case of the incident of Teheran in 1976.
Rencontre brought closer to the first type ( RR1 ): (S) pilot (S) the voi (in) T an UFO whatever it is with less than 150 meters.
Meeting brought closer to the second type ( RR2 ): the UFO leaves material proofs, like traces on the ground (case of Trans-in-Provence in 1981 for example). Some think that the Agroglyphe S are included in this category.
Meeting brought closer to the third type ( RR3 ): (S) pilot (S) the voi (in) T an UFO and its occupants, or then only alleged occupants of an UFO but without this last. The Incident of Kelly-Hopkinsville is classified like RR3.

In addition, other ufologists added other types later on:

Meeting brought closer to the fourth type ( RR4 ): the witness - then qualified " abducté" (of English " abductee") - claims to be removed by the occupants of an UFO. There are two types of meeting RR4. In a “RR4 of class 1”, the victims are not agreeing and can test a serious deformation of reality, lapseen of memory, symptoms characteristic of the traumatism of the abduction such as fear and concern, of the physiological effects like the paralysis, and a confusion in time and space. The case of Betty and Barney Hill is most famous. The “RR4 classify 2” are events which are technically described as removal. It is however about case where the witness voluntarily follows the entity.
Meeting brought closer to the fifth type ( RR5 ): the witness claims to be entered in communication with the occupants of an UFO. Many fabulateurs of the sect New Age claim to have lived a RR5. The mystifier Claude Vorilhon, founder of the sect of Raëliens, also claims to be contacted him by the extraterrestrial ones. But of other cases are regarded as truly having with classified not-identified aerospace phenomena D (i.e. which cannot be hoaxes and for which no explanation could be found). It is the case, for example, of the " File GEIPAN June 13rd, 1990 TUBUAI (987) 1990" at the time of the observation by witnesses of 6 luminous discs. One of the discs seemed " répondre" with the request of the luminous torch of a witness by a powerful white headlight.

Meeting brought closer to the sixth type ( RR6 ): one or more witnesses (or animals) are killed by an UFO or its occupants. The cases of mutilations of cattle which do not find an explanation rational are often charged to a RR6.

Classification of Valley

The classification of Valley is a system of classification of the observations of UFO created by the French ufologist Jacques Vallée. She is often preferred with the classification of Hynek, being more precise.

First System

Standard - I (has, B, C, D) - Observation of an unusual object, spherical form, in disc, or of another geometry, located close to the ground (with the height of the trees or low), with which one can associate traces, or heating effects, luminous or mechanical.

has - On the ground or close to the ground
B - Close to a water point
C - the occupants of the UFO show an interest for (S) the témoi (S) by making luminous gestures or signs
D - the UFO seems to inspect a terrestrial vehicle

Standard - II (has, B, c) - Observation of an unusual object of vertical and cylindrical form in the sky, associated with a cloudy halation. One gives to this phenomenon various names like " cigar nuageux" or " sphere nuageuse".

has - With erratic movements in the sky
B - stationary Object around and " engendre" other objects (" satellites" objects;)
C - the object is surrounded by other objects

Standard - III (has, B, C, D, E) - Observation of an unusual object of form spherical, discoïdale or elliptic, stationary in the sky.

has - Alternating period of movement and stationary period, with movements in sheet dead
B - Interruption of a flight continues, then begun again movement
C - Change of appearance lasting the parking
D - " Combat aériens" or towards other objects
E - Trajectory modified during a continuous flight charges to fly slowly around certain zones or to change direction suddenly.

Type IV (has, B, C, d) - Observation of an unusual object in continuous flight.

has - continuous Flight
B - trajectory modified by a nearby conventional machine
C - Flight in formation
D - Trajectory in vagueness or zigzag.

Standard V (has, B, C) - Observation of an unusual object of indistinct appearance, appearing as an object which is not entirely solid or material.

has - extended apparent Diameter, not-definite source of light
B - Objects similar to stars, motionless for long periods.
C - Objects similar to stars crossing the sky, possibly with particular trajectories.

Source: Challenge To Science: The UFO Enigma, by Jacques and Janine Valley, LC# 66-25843

Second System

In 1990, in its book Confrontations , Vallée proposed a new system of classification, more complete, by taking into account that of Hynek. In addition, this new system not only makes it possible to classify the paranormaux UFO, but also phenomena:

Anomaly (AN)

Standard I : Observation: Light or mysterious explosion
Standard II : Physical effects: Poltergeist S, Agroglyphe S
Standard III : Entitées: Phantom, extraterrestrial, animal cryptozoologic (Yéti, Log Born, etc)
Standard IV : Transformation of reality: NDE, vision or religious hallucination with character
Standard V : Wound or dead: spontaneous human combustion, marks, etc

Flight brought closer (BFR)

Standard I : Observation: Trajectory continues UFO
Type II : Physical effects: UFO leaving a physical trace
Standard III : Entitées: observation of beings (RR3)
Standard IV : Transformation of reality: (S the) pilot one (S) have an impression of deformation of reality
Type V : Wound or dead: wound or deaths caused by a UFO (RR6)

Operations (MA)

Standard I : Observation: discontinuous trajectory of the Standard UFO
II : Physical effects: UFO leaving a physical trace
Standard III : Entitées: observation of beings (RR3)
Standard IV : Transformation of reality: (S the) pilot one (S) have an impression of deformation of reality
Type V : Wound or dead: wound or deaths caused by a UFO (RR6)

Brought closer Meeting (EC)

Standard I : the UFO is close RR1)
Type II : Physical effects: UFO leaving a physical trace (equivalent with a RR2)
Standard III : Entitées: observation of beings (RR3)
Standard IV : Transformation of reality: Removals (RR4)
Standard V : Wound or dead: wound or deaths caused by a UFO (RR6)

Various currents ufologic

The current “nuts and bolts”

Translated into French by " sheets and boulons". It is an interpretation of the observations in which the UFOs are unknown machines. These machines were initially imagined like terrestrial origin, as the journalist Henry Taylor thought it, who saw secret machines of the American army there. One can notice that one had not awaited Kenneth Arnold to see mysterious machines in the sky. As of the 19th century one saw already mysterious airships (the famous Airship S), which the phantom Avions succeeded. After 1950, one will think with Donald Keyhoe of extraterrestrial machines, idea which will be relayed in France by Jimmy Guieu. On this last assumption, a Flying saucer is nothing any more but one machine shuttle, attached to an interplanetary machine, in the shape of large cigar.

The current of “contacted”

Certain witnesses state to have made meetings beyond RR3, and to have communicated with occupants of UFOs. It will be the case of Adamski, Howard Menger, Daniel Fry, Billy Meier, George King. If they were a certain success in the years 1950 to 1970, they do not profit more than one great credibility today within the ufologic community.

This current can be today comparable with certain currents New Age or assimilated such as the Mouvement raëlien founded by Claude Vorilhon or the sect of Heaven' S Gate.

The spiritualistic current

Among those, one can mention a spiritualistic movement and Occulte created in 1875, with New York: the “theosophic Company, synthesis of science, the religion and philosophy” by Helena Blavatsky. Indeed, if the Théosophie is based on the idea of an old teaching (the Paramount Tradition), transmitted by a fraternity of Masters of Wisdom supposed to reside in India, it incorporates in its doctrines the existence of “beings of light”, taking care on the evolution of Humanity during the ages and coming from another planets and solar systems (Venus, Sirius, etc). These beings of light are nevertheless more close in their description of “advanced angels” that small green men to the popular imagery.

However, if one can see in the phenomenon ufologic a continuity of the occultist interrogation of end 19th century and beginning 20th century, in term of social phenomenon (before being a scientist), one can date the true base from the ufology to the Années 1940.

The “astro-archaeological” current

In years 1970 develops an under-assumption of HET, carried out by Erich von Däniken, advancing that extraterrestrial visits would have taken place in the past, and that one can find traces of them today. Are then interpreted in this direction various archaeological elements such as the reasons for Nazca, cave paintings and statuettes d'" former astronauts ".

The current conspirationnist

Certain extreme currents of the ufology advance the assumption that there exist bonds between the UFOs, the military research and of the extraterrestrial intelligences as well as a Théorie of the plot made popular by certain American series (X-Files, Taken, Roswell…). In France, these current were relayed by Jimmy Guieu.

Assumptions and interpretations

The statistics resulting from studies of official government organizations indicate that the majority of testimonys of UFOs rest on an erroneous identification (mistaken). Since the years 1950 some scientists were interested in the UFOs. Two principal tendencies appeared: on a side the skeptics who will follow the methodology and the conclusions of the Rapport Condon by affirming that the sociopsychologic assumption or the assumption of not-identified flying weapons is the best to explain the unexplained cases of UFO, in particular because they do not call upon extraordinary or paranormaux elements. Today, the majority of the scientists prefers to adopt this posture because they consider that there do not exist sufficiently convincing elements to support the extraterrestrial assumption. Many skeptics consider that the whole of the observations can thus be brought back to prosaic elements such as an erroneous identification of astronomical, weather phenomena or human machines, with Canular S and phenomena sociopsychologic (known or not) such as complex mistakes, optical illusions, an unknown optical phenomenon or a Paralysie of the sleep (explanation often given for alleged extraterrestrial abductions).

It is on this precise point which tends to explain all the cases, even unexplained, by the sociopsychologic assumption, that certain ufologists and scientists dispute the skeptics by estimating that the official surveys carried out into the subject by various governments did not make it possible to determine the nature of the whole of the UFO and invite to the continuation of research, in particular with respect to the still unexplained cases, even by the sociopsychologic assumption. Among them one finds scientists like Carl Sagan, Peter A. Sturrock, Josef Allen Hynek, Philip Morrison or Thornton Page as well as the members of current GEIPAN. A similar work will be also completed by the sub-committee UFO made up within AIAA by Kuettner. Also Richard F. Hatreds or Paul R. Hill, specialists in aeronautics in NASA, will study various cases and will publish technical works on the subject. Others are further estimating than a fringe of unexplained cases could be due to extraterrestrial visits and support the extraterrestrial Hypothèse. One finds bet them scientists like Jean-Pierre Petit or Jean-Jacques Velasco

See also: sociopsychologic Assumption, extraterrestrial Assumption, not-identified flying Weapon, UFO

See too

flying Object not identified
extraterrestrial Life
Model sociopsychologic of the phenomenon UFO
List of the principal observations of UFOs
History of Ufologie
Pseudo-science
Laboratory of Astrophysics of the University of Liege

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