UFO viewing tips

Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008 7:32 PM by Alan Boyle

KXAS-TV

CLICK FOR VIDEO
KXAS-TV's Scott Gordon
reports on the UFO frenzy
in Stephenville, Texas.

Ten days after the first sightings of lights in the sky over Texas, tales of UFOs are still sparking speculation. One of the witnesses, Steve Allen, is offering $5,000 for a good picture of the flying object - but he hasn’t bought any of the photos or videos offered so far. “The pictures weren’t worth a damn,” he told me.

On Saturday, he and other witnesses are gathering to pool their accounts for a national UFO organization – but there’s always a chance the Texas sightings will fade into the distance, just like the O’Hare UFO sighting over a year ago. What's the best way to document a sighting? Here are some tips:

Take a picture
Getting an image of something in the sky may sound like the best way to go, but as this month's reports illustrate, that's not always sure-fire. Allen was one of the most widely quoted witnesses of the purported flyover on Jan. 8, and it was his desire to have an image that led him to offer the $5,000 reward. "I'd have given five grand that day to have a camera," he explained.

Several residents from the area around Stephenville, Texas, responded - but Allen said the pictures showed little more than dots in the sky. "I don't need a dot standing out there," he said.

Today the Fort Worth Star Telegraph published a front-page picture of the sighting, taken by a trucker with his cell phone as he drove along Interstate 20. "It looked like a meteor entering the atmosphere," the truck driver, Sean Kiel, was quoted as saying.

Allen was unimpressed. "It's not worth a flip," he told me. The bright spot's position in relation to the sun reminded me of a sundog, and the speck on the upper part of the image looked like an airplane. But of course, I'm no expert.

Photos are easy to fake. For example, in the case of the O'Hare UFO sightings, there were rumblings for weeks afterward about photographs showing the strange saucer over the airport. However, more than a year after the story caused such a sensation, only one picture remains that hasn't been debunked, according to Above Top Secret. And that one is far from conclusive.

Take a reading
NBC News space analyst James Oberg is hardly a true believer. Over the years, he's been pilloried by ufologists for coming down too hard on claims of strange sightings. But in the Texas case, Oberg is reluctant to prejudge the witnesses. Rather, he merely says that observers should be alert if they have an opportunity to identify a strange sky object. Here's what he had to say in an e-mail:

"Anytime you get a revisiting UFO, you have the chance to narrow down the normally near-infinite candidate list of prosaic explanations. You can ask people to memorize or record positions in the sky and angular size and speed of the apparition - not make unhelpful and automatically suspect guesses of sheer size and range, guesses that always involve unspoken (and unrealized) guesses about exactly those parameters that are supposedly being reported. Compare the object to the size of a fingertip, or a fist, at arm's length.

"Note where you are when you see it, and where it is over - and later go back and convert that to a true compass bearing. Log the times as accurately as possible - and if by your own watch, later compare it to a clock on a news channel. That way, separate but simultaneous sightings can be combined to create parallax measurements of true range.

"If nobody does this serious observation stuff, they may all be excited and have fun, but they'll be of no use to figuring out what may be behind the apparitions - and there's lots of stuff, some of it deliberately clandestine, that could be masquerading.

"Seeing jets chasing a UFO is a common perception - it's happened to me at least twice - and one has to be cautious about interpretations. Even at ranges of a mile or two, three jets in a close row will give the impression of the first object being silent - a 'UFO' - because the sound delay makes the second jet appear to be the first object giving off engine noise. It is a striking misinterpretation that most folks are never warned about. I'm not offering it as an explanation - only as a cautionary admonition."

Take a meeting
The Texas chapter of the Mutual UFO Network, or MUFON, has scheduled a session starting at 1 p.m. CT Saturday in Dublin, Texas, to interview Allen and other witnesses. To hear MUFON state director Ken Cherry tell it, the spectators and journalists in attendance might well outnumber those witnesses. "Normally we do this in a more private setting," he told me today.

Nevertheless, Cherry said he has received eyewitness reports from at least 40 to 50 "folks who sound credible," via telephone (817-379-0773) or the MUFON Web site.

"We consider this the most significant mass sighting since the Phoenix Lights of 1997," he said.

MUFON investigators will be asking the witnesses to fill out three-page questionnaires and also tell their stories - and the results will be eventually be compiled in a report. "The whole process will probably take several months," Cherry said.

Will the Texas sighting be the event that finally rips the lid off the UFO conspiracy, or will it go into the same file drawer where the O'Hare and Phoenix cases are sitting? Stay tuned for the next installment - and in the meantime, feel free to take our UFO quiz, register your opinion using our unscientific Live Vote, check out the archived Log items here and here ... and, as always, weigh in with your comments below.

Update for 6:10 p.m. ET Jan. 20: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a report about the "crowded cacophony of confusion" at Saturday's UFO meeting, with seven investigators quizzing more than 50 witnesses as 400 onlookers (some in tinfoil hats) milled about. As Cherry said in advance of the event, it'll be several months before MUFON puts out its report. Among other media outlets in attendance were KXAS-TV, the Houston Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News.

Update for 6:30 p.m. ET Jan. 23: There will likely be more about this, but just for the record, I should pass along this U.S. Navy advisory issued today:

"NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas - In the interest of public awareness, Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs realized an error was made regarding the reported training activity of military aircraft.

"Ten F-16s from the 457th Fighter Squadron were performing training ope,rations from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday January 8, 2008 in the Brownwood Miltary Operating Area (MOA), which includes the airspace above Erath county.

"A MOA is airspace designated for military training. ..."

Does this solve the mystery? Feel free to weigh in once more.

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Comments

An article that might provide some context for the Stephenville, Texas, situation is: “Researchers, others visit Stephenville to gather information, insight about UFO sightings” (AmericanChronicle.com, January 16, 2008).

Hammo, Phoenix, Arizona (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 9:11 PM)

it looks like a street light or the moon. there is no way to tell how far away it is. it doesnt move at all. the camera shakes alot.

mike sheridan (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 9:15 PM)

Did James Oberg shoot himself in the foot by using the word "apparition"? Taken as its true meaning, it indicates an unexpected and unusual sight(ing); taken as most people would understand it, he is saying that people are seeing 'ghosts'. That wasn't very helpful in getting him out of the scorn and contempt to which serious UFO researchers have subjected him, let alone, the witnesses who are convinced of what they saw. Nice one James - it was a really long-winded way of saying that the poor people have yet again all had mass delusions, are delusional, and are just not to be taken one iota seriously.

Melinda (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 9:21 PM)

The time tourism business of the future is doing quite well. Rather than the space tourism of today, the extravagantly rich of the future get their kicks by travelling back in time. Rest easy America, your future generations are just taking a peek at the way things used to be.

Joshua, Lawrence, KS (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 9:44 PM)

If I had a good photo of a UFO, I would not be selling it for a lousy $5,000.
A real shot of a true UFO would be worth millions..
So keep looking up in the sky,for that once in a lifetime shot might just fly by,,,NHD in Arizona.

Neil Donahue (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 10:01 PM)

This technology is not that of aliens, but rather that of of our own airforce. It may be secret, but it's not rocket science. Wikipedia laser propulsion and start brainstorming, enlightenment is soon to follow. ;)

Drew, Mountain View, CA (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 10:09 PM)

Thank you for a very reasonable, rational article. Unfortunately, not all of us have at the ready ultra high speed films/cameras/video recording equipment nor infrared sensors, calorimeters, dopplers, sonars, and various radar modalities. As well, when sighting an unusual object, the sheer surprise of the unexpected event blunts a reflexive recording response. Such was the case for my wife and me(sane, sober, and healthy retired physicians) on another camping/climbing trip to Big Bend National Park last November 4th. While still resting supine in our sleeping bags off Old Ore Road just north of the Rio Bravo del Norte at 4:34 a.m. and gazing at the moonless, star filled sky anticipating an early morning coffee before hitting the trail, an enormous, darkly defined, totally silent object that progressively blotted out the constellations as it swiftly traversed 10 degrees poleward off the zenith from 245 degrees (sw) to 45 degrees (ne). The fore/aft termini of this object each displayed a painfully bright white light; no vibrations, auditory perceptions, no electrostatic sensations, no shock wave. Its constant velocity was so great that it allowed no time whatsoever to extract our high speed cameras from our backpacks. Also, unfortunately, depth of field was also compromised because of near total darkness save for background starlight making an a reasonably accurate estimation of angular velocity a moot exercise. Wish as we might, there were no repeat performances on Emery Peak, Lost Mine Trail, Chinati Peak, nor at Candelaria, Marfa, and Casa Piedra. Nevertheless, if you might enjoy a starry, starry night (void of any hint of light pollution) that resembles powdered sugar cast upon a indigo-black celestial sphere, Big Bend serves as your point of departure.

Wherever you go/there you are, presently Texas (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 10:30 PM)

With the advances in camera technology increasing by leaps and bounds; and the fact that more and more people carry them with them. It seems to me that some day we will see a photograph or video taken by a sound, believable person. Crystal clear, remarkable and undeniably true.

J.J. (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 10:52 PM)

I'm disappointed that of all the articles on this incident so far, no journalist has seen fit to address the question of whether a mirage reflecting artificial lights -- such as vehicles, traffic lights or street lamps -- could provide a scientific explanation for what witnesses saw. Look at how long humans witnessed Transient Luminous Events (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning) before they were recognized as natural, real phenomena that could be scientifically documented. Just because a phenomenon is rare and difficult to photograph does not automatically make it the product of extraterrestrials nor human hallucinations.

Esskay (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 10:58 PM)

As a child I lived on Patrick Air Force Base Florida where numerous such sightings occured. To my view, I was convinced that what I saw was indeed a UFO, only to be surprised when I found out that the object was nothing more than an Air Force experiment. My dad, a captain at the time, commented that tight security was necassary to hide the ongoing work to keep the "commies" in the dark. Some of the experiments were quite bizzar and defied comparison to the known aircraft of the day. To this day, there are still many such sightings going on at the base.

Just a thought!

Gary French, Reno Nevada (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 11:14 PM)

It was a combination of swamp gas and the planet Venus...get over it.
regards,
The US Air Farce

John Erickson, Mill City, Oregon (Sent Friday, January 18, 2008 11:17 PM)

I remember seeing the video of "The Phoenix lights"... which were obviously just parachute flares being dropped by a Military plane.. Something I have seen MANY times during my military career.
There is nothing unidentified about them... but some people want to believe so badly in Little green men... they see what they want to see.

Paul m. Lincoln, NE (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 4:47 AM)

Too much reasonably reliable information to be nothing;i.e.hysteria; not enough to define the object. I'll reserve judgement until more data is in. Perhaps we'll get lucky ni
ext time.

L.L. Baker, Casper, WY. (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 5:05 AM)

Sorry Drew. Read "The Day After Roswell" from Ret. Air Force Col. Philip J. Corso. There are many military high echolons who have gone public by design, and by a leap of faith. Not to mention, 'UFO's' as its known to Americans, have actual names and recorded history within many ancient civilizations-Like Egypt. Where in Pyramids they have drawings of "Gray" aliens. But I guess there is a debunker for everything. Aborigines,The Dogon Tribe of Mali, Native Americans, Meso-Americans....Its seems the "modern" man is the only peoples right now really clueless on how this fits into their life rather they like it, or not.

Mac,Alexandria,Va (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 5:08 AM)

Photos are near worthless, video is what matters. Video provides speed and hopefully landmarks. Multiple cameras would be better for the serious investigator. I think a lot of people are to the point where it "has" to be military since the next alternative throws their old belief systems into chaos. Of course they forget that the UFOs have been around longer than Area 51 and flew over DC in 1952 on multiple nights.
The exoplanet research has convinced me that the odds are getting better every year for the aliens to exist. And given that this planet has already seen one major life form in the dinosaurs, it wouldn't suprise me that another planet 50 million years ago developed their own intelligent species that decided to travel the stars before we even existed. People just don't get that the universe and life have been around an incredibly long time--humans are new to the scene.

Ringo Thomas, Seattle, WA (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 5:37 AM)

Submissions should only be accepted from qualified graduates of Wacko U. UFO post grad program. On the job training accepted in lieu of real sheepskin, available at numerous fishing piers in Pensacola, Florida. Bring your own 12 pack.

Dave Herchenhahn (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:40 AM)

I would imagine most people who see an unidentified flying object, of such startling supprise, would not be so cool headed as to do much detective work concerning the matter. However with todays technology one could get a gps location and sky position after the fact. If the sighting is of real puzzling magnitude the excitement of the moment would have to cause it's own confusions.
I live in a high high altitude air traffic location. The night or daytime sky is almost not without something flying over at all times. I actualy pay little attention to the movements in the sky as a result. We even get low flying craft often enough to just pass it all off as something we are used to hearing or seeing.
However if an object over a mile in length were to hover over us I think that would get lots of attention and the "normal" air traffic we see could not cover the explanation. Like most people, I have always wondered why don't these "visitors" just communicate and get it over with. If they are in fact visitors at all. No one trusts anything our government says anymore about any aubject. If I were to guess and believe that these objects are from another "existance" somewhere. I would accept the idea they are from another dimention able to travel through the worm holes in the fabric of time. Yet even that idea doesn't explain why they don't just stop and say hello.
I would say to everyone to keep looking up, but sometimes it is better to keep an eye and an ear to the ground.

Steven F Durst (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 7:28 AM)

What is the big deal? UFO sightings are more common than seeing the a an Air Force fighter jet in the sky. All you have to do is hang around veteran pilots and have them tell you stories---in any country of the world. Even in Mexico where I live there is a large UFO org that has lots of great pictures of UFO's like orgs in other countries. We are blind and ignorant as humans not to realize the significance of other "beings" in our universe after all the physical evidence we have of our own history dating back to time of the Egyptians.

J Golden (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 7:48 AM)

i think they must have been seeing the 5:30 bus to Xylaron.. it took a wrong turn getting on the galactic on-ramp, so it became visible for a bit

Zonar E. Radaron Quahog, RI (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:08 AM)

For the UFO in Texas check out the latest issue of Poplar Mechanic. There is a producted being test for the Goverment that is over 400 feet long that can go over 60,000 feet into the are . Also in the same issue there was about four other craftes being tested by different companies.

Ken Corey, Wallingford, VT (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:13 AM)

Any person who seen or had contact with a Ufo can remember every detail the rest of his or her life. Also most people had direct contact with it is under theirs influence 24 7 the rest of theirs life been theirs and still is.

W L. Jones Jacksonville.Florida (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:52 AM)

I am an early riser, most of the time at 4:00 AM. In the summertime and on warmer winter mornings (which are few and far between) I sit in my back yard and nearly every morning observe what I believe to be satilites passing by. One morning I obseved three objects moving in a sort of trianglular formation from west to east. By the time they were out of view they had changed formation to where the last object was even with the lead object. I know satilites don't fly in groups!

David Alexander Fort Collins, CO (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:03 AM)

my wife and daughter have been in sight of two , one small and a mother ship same time in commerce texas, you want proof stay here awhile and to some people.

d.watson (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:04 AM)

W L. Jones Jacksonville.Florida (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:07 AM)

No UFOs. No aliens. No life on other planets. We are all alone, a cosmic accident.

Ralph Coleman (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:07 AM)

Why do the aliens keep showing up in backwoods redneck towns? They must not be very smart.

Mr Jangles Tampa FL (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:16 AM)

I had two things happen. Once my bedroom lit up like
daylight and there was no sound out side. Another time I had a ball of light coming up my driveway. I was alone with my small child at the time so I called a neighbor. Who do you call when something like this happens.

Linda Jacque Northfield MA (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:21 AM)

Drew,
If it's a top secret aircraft... doesn't that mean it most likely is rocket science?

On another note, thank you Allen for being objective in your journalistic endeavors. A recent newsweek article on the Texas sightings left alot to be desired. http://www.newsweek.com/id/96014

No I've never seen a UFO, so I can't judge for myself, but I would say that extraterrestrials are an equal possibility to other explinations for a portion of reported sightings. Especially when they involve dozens of witnesses or expert witnesses.

Joseph Basile, Worcester, MA (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:31 AM)

I remember attending a "flying saucer convention" at 29 Palms, California way back in spring 1960. There were black-and-white photos of a "flying saucer casting a shadow on the moon". The technical problems of this assertion were: (1) if the flying saucer was close to the earth (and therefore a large image, how could it cast a shadow on the moon?; and (2) if the flying saucer was, indeed, casting a shadow on the moon, it must have had a length equal to about one-fourth the diameter of the moon. Conclusion: be wary of photographs of flying saucers.

Peter Rony, Blacksbufrg, Virginia (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:49 AM)

The media has one of the best stories in history but they won't follow up on it because of the debunkers.
what a shame to think we are the only ones in this huge universe! But that is how we think now.

Richard Carpenter Sr. Lompoc Ca. (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:20 AM)

i have seen something strange about 12 years ago,really close i am talking 30 ft off the ground,about the size of a small car perfect triangle,jet black,about 2' tall.kid's also saw this and for years after my daughter was drawing this in art class.i can still picure it.but live within 10 miles to stratcom.could have been rc.not a sinlge noise stayed there a couple min.then left without a sound when i was getting my camera.

steve.omaha,ne. (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:22 AM)

It could be a new type of secret military aircraft or maybe vistors from beyond Earth. It appears that this scenario was to test a new camouflage technique. When the UFO decended to about 1,000 ft. above ground the fireball cloud effect burned off thus revealing the true object in its entirety. Then the next step was to get out of dodge. Interesting how other aircraft were flying close to it. For what purpose? A guide?Escort? Or simple curiosity? Rest assure this won't be the last incident with an encounter of a UFO. When a clear/detailed photograph or video footage can be shown to the public this incident may just die quietly. Until then keep a camera or video camcorder close by and charged up. You just never know when that opportunity will come. The truth is out there.

T.B., Seaside, CA (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:25 AM)

If it was a laser propulsion test, it must have been successful otherwise the crash site would have been tracked-down fast. Goovy!

Johne', San Antonio, TX (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:30 AM)

go to www.actionforspace.com and demand that the presidential candidates address this or other spaceflight industry issues. Because you go to www.actionforspace.com and use the link to fax, email, or call the candidates directly, they are going to talk about these issues in the debates. go to www.actionforspace.com now!

actionforspace.com (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:41 AM)

I, being a previous viewer of what I then, and still today, consider a UFO, believe that others should control themselves and avoid making a media blitz aout of a possible sighting. Yes, there are likely beings from a far away solar system who are regularly visiting our earth. The are probably very concerned about the way we are treating our planet. The most concentrated amount of sightings occurred after the first atomic bomb was exploded. We are certainly being watched. All that I ask is that when you DO think that you have seen a UFO, then please refrain from acting like a school kid in a candy store. There are those of us who consider possible visitations from others "out there" as being rather common place and fact. Thank you. By the way, I am a registered member of the National UFO Reporting Site. I did not then, nor am I know, seeking media attention.

William Gilbreath (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:45 AM)

My wife and I had a similar sighting in McClusky ND on 07/10/03 I reported it to MUFON and I was the Sheriff at the time.What we saw was real. Whether it was created by our own govn't or not I don't know.If I could have filmed it, there would have been no question about fact vs fantasy. It would have proven once and for all that they are real.

Larry Gessner McClusky ND (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:02 PM)

i've seen ufo's in the sky before so has my family. it would be nice to meet and greet someone that has traveled so far to seek out our world. but it upsets me as to the greetings they would receive.so i pray they just pass on by and not land it wouldn't be safe for them.

trudy clark mtpleasant,tx. (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:10 PM)

Technology is of aliens...and "aliens" is a modern name change...they used to be called Fallen Angels and Demons but the modern day media has changed that. They changed it so you won't know their real origin.

Rick, Perry, Ohio (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:17 PM)

I love it how some idiot automatically blames the Air Force everytime someone sees something. Hate to tell you bub but look up laser propulsion on your own other than wiki it and you will see that its still not viable in allot of ways..

Pat, NC (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:39 PM)

With all these UFOs over Texas, we must conclude the Aliens are here to support Ron Paul for President.

Forget about securing our borders, maybe we should secure our skies.

Maybe we do need to stop illegal aliens from voting.

JM Springfield, MO (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:49 PM)

"and the results will be eventually be compiled in a report."
How do you people not fix this?

George, Fayetteville, AR (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:49 PM)

Starving children, illiteracy, steadily falling morality, addiction, disease...and the list goes on...how about you brainiacs tackle some of these issues instead of your little fantasies about aliens...

Mary Jane, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:57 PM)

This type of thing has been happening since cave man days. It's just my opinion, but I think people are not ready anyway. Say someone does come up with a photo that survives through all the stringent speculation. What then?! Someone is still gonna say, "awww so what". Pictures, video, & eyewitness accounts are already documented on thousands of other "unrelated" cases. The evidence has been accumulating for a number of years. Only when we act as a responsible, intelligent, rational, & collaborative people can we make any real progress on this issue.

Common Sense, Atlanta Ga (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:00 PM)

Seeing bright dots in the sky moving at various speeds is one thing that can be explained, but when they make perfect right angle turns at high speed, thats when you know you have seen the real deal.

Robert Grigsby (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:01 PM)

I would prefer to think in a positive human family light and agree with Joshua from KS. Hoping my grandchildren from the future are well off, able to afford the ride back and taking at peak at where their colorful"Grammy" they heard so much about grew up. Best Wiahes to ALL. Diana TEXAS

Diana Houston, Texas (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:15 PM)

No photo's , no evidense..no nothin.

Thomas Ashby, Calgary (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:29 PM)

Science vs Enchantment...click Alan's first link above to read an assessment of Human Evolution...in less than 100 words...
methinks we need to get re-enchanted a bit...the status report implies that we are at the final stages of human output...the Age of Science will see to that...Science vs Enchantment...better than Science vs God...
Yipes!

steve smyth (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:44 PM)

S4 Is not that far from Texas and the black program does not file flight plans.

DARK STAR (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:51 PM)

Cannot rule out meteor event,satellite pass,space junk reentry.Since I have not see a date and a time listed for this event.Has anyone looked at ISS passes for Stephenvilla ,also Iridium flare events witch can become so bright that they will cast light onto the ground at night.Also the Lacrosse spy satellites can be very bright and can show reflective multi-point light sources from the spacecraft antenna and spacecraft bus.Does anyone in the area understand the air traffic patterns that cross this communtiy.Do not believe at this time the case can be made for little green men from outer space.
Thomas Dorman
Horizon City,Texas

Thomas Dorman Horizon City,Texas (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:58 PM)

Do the skeptics really want 'proof'? Then will they ask NASA, which speaks for the US Government in this matter, a simple open question?

"Would you welcome an open and public 'confirmation of presence' from the ETs who are visiting our world--an undeniable appearance, or a radio or optical message which could be received by the news media and people of the United States?"

If the question and the answer are reported by the news media, then they will be heard by any ETs who are carefully monitoring our civilization.

A "Yes" from NASA would say to the American people, and the ETs, that the government is finally ready to let the people know the truth about the ET presence.

A "No" from NASA, or some evasive dismissal of the question, would say to the American people, and the ETs, that the government--to the extent that it can control the situation--is not ready to let the people know the truth about the ET presence.

Again and again, for decades, the government and the people of the United States have been given the opportunity to acknowledge the ET presence, and lead humankind into a new era. But it may simply be too frightening for the US, and some other nation will take the first step. Or the ETs may eventually provide an undeniable demonstration of their presence--regardless of the wishes of the US Government--to all the peoples of the Earth.

If the skeptics cannot even ask NASA a simple question, then it will be clear that they do not want 'proof', and that their purpose is to prevent the American people from knowing the truth about the ET presence.

Is it possible the ETs have something important to tell us, perhaps about the nature of life and technology, and the experiences of other evolving technological civilizations? Something that, in a few years or decades, we'll wish we had asked about now? While the 'contact' process will certainly be a difficult experience for humankind, should we trust that ignorance will protect us and guide us into a future of peace, freedom, and prosperity?

Joe, Alexandria, VA (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 2:03 PM)

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