It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Wait, what is that thing? World UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) Day occurs on July 2nd each year, and we’re geeking out about it. If you’ve experienced close encounters with extraterrestrial forces, you wouldn’t be the only one. In fact, this goes back as far as the Puritans. Diary records from John Winthrop in 1639 mention an incident involving 3 men in a row boat. “‘When it stood still, it flamed up, and was about three yards square,’ the governor reported, ‘when it ran, it was contracted into the figure of a swine.’”
Alien investigation
As time passed, a documented unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) occurred in 1947 by Kenneth Arnold. Kenneth was flying his plane near Mount Rainier when he saw 9 flying crescent-shaped objects. He described them as moving in a pattern similar to saucers skipping over the water, which was mistakenly printed in a newspaper as saucer-shaped, giving life to the term “flying saucer.”
More sightings were reported, many stemming from Kenneth's report. Further complicating matters, tensions in the United States were high due to the Cold War and fear of Soviet aircraft invasions and spies. So much so that in 1948, the US Air Force launched an investigation into these sightings. Titled “Project Sign” in 1948, then “Project Grudge,” and finally “Project Blue Book” from 1952-1969, 12,000 UFO sightings and reports were compiled.
Looking for little green men
The Robertson Panel, an expert team of scientists commissioned by the CIA, probed into these claims and drafted a report on their findings, The Condon Report. This stated that 90% of the documented sightings or photographs could be attributed to cosmic events and that no national or international security threat existed. However, parts of the panel’s report were kept under classified lock and key, leaving speculation into government cover-up conspiracies and secret government programs.
Area 51
Fabled or factual, Area 51, a restricted 90,000 acres of land in Nevada, could be labeled as the location for the peak of government conspiracy theories as it’s allegedly the site where an alien spacecraft crashed and was “covered up.” (We put this in quotes because we don’t want to get sued.) Satellite imagery of this location has been banned since 2018, and visitors to the site’s gates will also see signs prohibiting photos. This only adds to the hype of the conspiratorial vibes there. Several theories circulate about Area 51, suggesting it's the base where alien technologies found at famous crash sites are tested and possibly even where alien lifeforms themselves are studied.
Crop Circles
Probably the most famous encounters credited to UFOs are the crop circles that appear overnight, thought to have been made by the landing of these flying discs. “Since the start of the 21st century, crop formations have increased in size and complexity, with some featuring as many as 2,000 different shapes and some incorporating complex mathematical and scientific characteristics.” A quick Google image search will show you more of what we mean when we say these circles can be intricate and advanced.
Conclusion
World UFO Day reminds us of the intriguing mysteries and endless possibilities that lie beyond our planet. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, the stories and sightings continue to captivate our imagination and fuel our curiosity. Keep looking to the skies, and who knows what you might discover. Happy UFO Day, live long and prosper, and may your quest for knowledge never cease!
