{"id":33468,"date":"2022-06-29T13:25:54","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T13:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=23414"},"modified":"2022-06-29T13:41:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T13:41:13","slug":"9-things-commonly-mistaken-for-ufos","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/9-things-commonly-mistaken-for-ufos\/","title":{"rendered":"9 things commonly mistaken for UFOs"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Keiron Allen\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

In June 2013, the National Archives released their tenth, and final, bundle of files from the Ministry of Defence\u2019s (MoD) UFO desk, which closed back in 2009.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all heard the stories of the Roswell UFO incident<\/a>, or the supposed alien species that many \u2018believers\u2019 think inhabits a star orbiting Zeta Reticuli<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But rather than uncovering an extra-terrestrial conspiracy, the last batch of files released by the National Archives revealed that at the time of the closure the MoD had \u201cno opinion\u201d on the existence of extra-terrestrial beings, and seemed a little fed up by the hundreds of reported UFO sightings that they were receiving each year.<\/p>\n

So, the next time you see something in the sky and you think it might be a UFO, consider the following possibilities.<\/p>

1<\/span>

Military aircraft<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lockheed\u2019s F-117A Nighthawk \u00a9 Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Top secret spyplanes like the Blackbird (Lockheed SR-71) were often taken to be UFOs during the Cold War.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the triangular-shaped stealth fighter (F-117A Nighthawk) and bomber probably have been, too.<\/p>\n

Who knows how many new sightings are down to top-secret craft we don\u2019t even know about \u2013 perhaps even saucer-shaped ones?<\/p>

2<\/span>

Meteor fireballs<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Meteor fireballs over the Atacama Large Millimeter\/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile \u00a9 Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A yellow-ish object appears out of nowhere, flying fast and silent across the sky and leaving a glowing trail behind it.<\/p>\n

The object suddenly breaks into smaller pieces before vanishing into thin air \u2013 all in under a minute.<\/p>\n

Over-anxious witnesses might run screaming to the media, but astronomers will be content to have seen a spectacular meteor fireball.<\/p>

3<\/span>

Lens flare<\/h3>\n<\/div>

If you\u2019ve been observing for a long time you\u2019ll be all too aware that light sometimes bounces off the lens elements in your camera, binoculars or telescope, causing a lens flare.<\/p>\n

Some flares can look like solid objects and, if they\u2019re accidentally framed in the right place, a newbie might well mistake them for an unworldly spacecraft.<\/p>

4<\/span>

The Moon<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Credit: Dan Fleetwood, Rugby, Warwickshire, 27 July 2020.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Sometimes all rational thought seems to go out of the window.<\/p>\n

In 2007, a woman phoned South Wales Police to report a \u2018bright stationary object\u2019 that had been floating in the air for 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

Later that evening, the police control room radioed to check what an officer had found.<\/p>\n

The officer replied: \u201cIt\u2019s the Moon. Over.\u201d<\/p>

5<\/span>

The International Space Station<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
International Space Station over Ribblehead Viaduct by Pete Collins, Yorkshire Dales. Equipment: Canon 6D, Samyang 14mm f2.8 lens at f4, iso200.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The International Space Station<\/a> is larger than Wembley\u2019s football pitch and significantly brighter than most night sky objects.<\/p>\n

It moves fast, taking just a few minutes to cross the sky from one horizon to the other.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also silent, perhaps startling and confusing onlookers who are used to the din of aeroplane engines.<\/p>\n

If you do want to see it, read our guide on how to see the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>

6<\/span>

Oddly shaped clouds<\/h3>\n<\/div>

The closest you\u2019ll get to seeing a classic flying saucer shape is the so-called lenticular cloud (Altocumulus lenticularis).<\/p>\n

They form at high altitudes, near or atop mountains that have moist air blowing over them.<\/p>\n

Although the wind speeds are high, the clouds remain stationary.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not hard to imagine you\u2019re seeing a hovering UFO, or a saucer concealed inside the cloud.<\/p>

7<\/span>

Chinese lanterns<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Paper lanterns are increasingly popular.<\/p>\n

Once lit, they can float very high \u2013 up to a mile, according to some reports.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sky lanterns set off during the Yi Peng (Loi Krathong) festival in Thailand \u00a9 Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The fact that they make no sound and have an orange glow adds to the sense of mystery, especially if you see them flying in \u2018formation\u2019 (due to them being tied together with string).<\/p>

8<\/span>

Military satellites<\/h3>\n<\/div>

In the 1970s the US Navy launched a series of surveillance satellites to track Russian vessels.<\/p>\n

Dubbed NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) by civilians, each consists of a trio of satellites that orbit in a triangle formation and are sometimes visible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
NOSS 3-3 duo passing by Polaris (bright star at the bottom) \u00a9 Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Search YouTube<\/a> for \u2018NOSS satellite\u2019 to see if you\u2019d mistake them for a black, triangle-shaped spacecraft.<\/p>

9<\/span>

Planets<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Seen either before sunrise or after sunset, Venus<\/a> is so bright it\u2019s often mistaken for the landing lights of an aeroplane.<\/p>\n

Unlike a plane, though, Venus is pretty much stationary, which gives imaginative observers the impression of something \u2018hovering\u2019.<\/p>\n

Bright, orangey red Jupiter<\/a> is another planet frequently taken to be a UFO.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of <\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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