It's a bird! It's a plane! It's -- just what the hell is it? (Photo by Jonas Smith) Humans have always been seeking explanations for what we see in the skies. We’ve figured out a lot of it over time, but we still have much to learn. While we keep an eagle eye on outer space, we sometimes encounter surprises closer to home. Ever since pilot Kenneth Arnold spotted an Unidentified Flying Object over Mount Rainier in Washington on June 24, 1947, worldwide incidents of UFO sightings have really taken off. We celebrate World UFO Day each year in honor of Mr. Arnold’s contributions to UFO research. Stories of encounters with aliens and their vehicles have inspired countless movies and television shows. We remain fascinated by historical accounts of unexplained occurrences, such as the destructive column of blue light that flattened part of Russia more than a hundred years ago, and the disturbing deaths of several skiers on the other side of Russia in 1959. There’s always someone ready to say that these kinds of cases provide proof that we are sometimes visited by alien life forms. But there never seems to be conclusive evidence to say what really happened. With many UFO sightings, we have to rely on eyewitness accounts, and the occasional bit of footage that naysayers are quick to label as hoaxes. But sometimes sightings are reported by those who would generally be regarded as reliable sources. Back in 1942, the U.S. Army itself must have seen the lighted crafts over Los Angeles -- it launched an attack on them. A couple of years ago, a Royal Navy aircraft engineer reported seeing a flying saucer over the motorway in Somerset, England. With their cameras constantly rolling, the TV news networks are bound to snag a glimpse of something once in a while, right? And, indeed, both the BBC and CNN have inadvertently filmed UFOs in recent years. Keep your eyes on the sky, and have your camera ready. Whether or not you make a special trip to seek out the mysteries of the universe, they may appear when you least expect them. Suggested Sites... SETI Institute - scientists and educators try to answer the question: "are we alone?" National UFO Reporting Center - browse reports or file one of your own. UFO Hunters - watch episodes of the History Channel show. Ten best UFO hoax videos - Mashable.com - fodder for skeptics. Top Ten Alien Encounters Debunked - Space.com deflates your shiny weather balloon.

Directory categories: Paranormal Phenomena, UFOs, Astronomy, Extraterrestrial Life, Kenneth Arnold

Archived under: Aliens, Astronomy, Hoaxes, Mysteries, Paranormal, Science, Science Fiction, UFOs, Weird Stuff

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