On more than one occassion, and over a span of decades, I have seen completely dark objects, "flying" in straight-line paths at night. Detected only by their silhouettes, as stars and the Milky Way winked-out when they passed. Always very fast, 10-20 degrees per second. At first I thought about bats, owls or some other nocturnal bird, but they usually fly in a formation of 3. Completely soundless, even minutes afterwards- so I don't think they could be supersonic jets. When they were detected, it was usually several times during the same night, sometimes multiple passes over parallel courses. Then no sightings for years and years. I have seen them mostly over the desert, can't recall seeing them over an alpine location. Anybody else ever notice these things? Any ideas besides hallucination? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
They're called "floaters" and can be treated using lasers. So next time you think you are seeing them, stare directly into your green laser pointer and they will disappear. Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
On more than one occassion, and over a span of decades, I have seen completely dark objects, "flying" in straight-line paths at night. Detected only by their silhouettes, as stars and the Milky Way winked-out when they passed. Always very fast, 10-20 degrees per second. At first I thought about bats, owls or some other nocturnal bird, but they usually fly in a formation of 3. Completely soundless, even minutes afterwards- so I don't think they could be supersonic jets. When they were detected, it was usually several times during the same night, sometimes multiple passes over parallel courses. Then no sightings for years and years. I have seen them mostly over the desert, can't recall seeing them over an alpine location.
Anybody else ever notice these things? Any ideas besides hallucination?
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You're always so helpful. --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
They're called "floaters" and can be treated using lasers. So next time you think you are seeing them, stare directly into your green laser pointer and they will disappear.
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Actually the geese or ducks flying in formation makes perfect sense. Certainly more so than secret domestic military spy plane missions. Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
You're always so helpful.
--- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
They're called "floaters" and can be treated using lasers. So next time you think you are seeing them, stare directly into your green laser pointer and they will disappear.
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Silent ducks work perfectly for what I saw- I never mentioned secret spy planes! Ann did, but what she described isn't the same ducky description as what I saw. There IS a small, fast, remotely-operated, highly maneuverable surveilance blimp that is sometimes used for night-time, covert observation. It uses electric motors, and dim light glinting off it's curved sides could resemble what she and her husband saw. I think I read of it's being used in this area in years past- and in residential neighborhoods no less. Doesn't fit my observations at all, but it makes perfect sense as a possible explanation for what she saw. --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
Actually the geese or ducks flying in formation makes perfect sense. Certainly more so than secret domestic military spy plane missions.
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http://www.galaxyblimps.com/surveilance.html --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
Actually the geese or ducks flying in formation makes perfect sense. Certainly more so than secret domestic military spy plane missions.
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I remember a time growing up in San Diego having a blimp fly over my house one night while I was outside looking up. It was flying without visible lighting from beneath, and it sure creeped me out when I just saw this dark shape begin to eclipse the stars. It wasn't until it had flown far enough past that I could see the lights mounted higher up. As I recall, I couldn't hear it either. --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
http://www.galaxyblimps.com/surveilance.html
--- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
Actually the geese or ducks flying in formation makes perfect sense. Certainly more so than secret domestic military spy plane missions.
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Here'a a firm that specializes in military versions, much larger volumes for carrying a live crew: http://www.boschaero.com/ship_mil.htm Notice that on the Galaxy site, they advertize special paint jobs that render the airship almost invisible from the ground. I'm almost convinced that what I saw were ducks, no airship could duplicate what I saw (thanks, Dave!). But perhaps the blimp explanation could explain other's sightings. As to whom may be the owners of those airships, who knows? The DEA? Private security contractors? Industrial espionage? Nosy, techie neighbors? The Adolph Coors Company? The Gnomes of Zurich? --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
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Thanks for all the ideas, I think we have definitely seen different things and the blimp/balloon sounds like a plausible solution for what Craig and I saw. As to possible owners of such a ship, who knows? South Salt Lake has some sort of Oxbow jail and is also the proud owner of remnants of a vitro tailings pond -- doesn't sound too exciting for viewing. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission .com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:06 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Odd objects Here'a a firm that specializes in military versions, much larger volumes for carrying a live crew: http://www.boschaero.com/ship_mil.htm Notice that on the Galaxy site, they advertize special paint jobs that render the airship almost invisible from the ground. I'm almost convinced that what I saw were ducks, no airship could duplicate what I saw (thanks, Dave!). But perhaps the blimp explanation could explain other's sightings. As to whom may be the owners of those airships, who knows? The DEA? Private security contractors? Industrial espionage? Nosy, techie neighbors? The Adolph Coors Company? The Gnomes of Zurich? --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
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That's why I always carry a 12 guage when I'm out observing. If it's geese, we've got dinner. If it's a spying blimp, it's on the ground and no longer a threat! ;) Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
Here'a a firm that specializes in military versions, much larger volumes for carrying a live crew:
http://www.boschaero.com/ship_mil.htm
Notice that on the Galaxy site, they advertize special paint jobs that render the airship almost invisible from the ground.
I'm almost convinced that what I saw were ducks, no airship could duplicate what I saw (thanks, Dave!). But perhaps the blimp explanation could explain other's sightings. As to whom may be the owners of those airships, who knows? The DEA? Private security contractors? Industrial espionage? Nosy, techie neighbors? The Adolph Coors Company? The Gnomes of Zurich?
--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
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You know, I don't know why I never thought of ducks after all these years. As soon as I read Dave's post, I was sure that was the explanation. But it would be cool to see a 'covert' blimp at night, too! Shoot down 5 of them, and you're an ace! --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
That's why I always carry a 12 guage when I'm out observing. If it's geese, we've got dinner. If it's a spying blimp, it's on the ground and no longer a threat! ;)
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Ok, so now you're getting us to admit seeing something odd as well, but we had decided not to describe to others (figuring suggestions of eye surgery or other forms of medical treatment). Early this summer Craig and I were viewing from our back yard and also looking through binoculars. Two nights in a week period, Craig said he saw a moving ark shaped dark shape (through the binoculars) that you did see it as much as you saw the shape blocking out the stars. I politely said nothing, because I didn't see it. The next week, to my surprise, I had the same experience through binoculars, and it lasted for several seconds. That shot my unsaid theory of Vietnam flashbacks for Craig, but I have no idea what we saw and we haven't seen it since. We both drew on paper what we saw and then showed them to each other to see how similar they were. Our best guess was some stealth military plane working on a Bush-like spy on your own people project. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission .com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:12 AM To: Utah-Astro Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Odd objects On more than one occassion, and over a span of decades, I have seen completely dark objects, "flying" in straight-line paths at night. Detected only by their silhouettes, as stars and the Milky Way winked-out when they passed. Always very fast, 10-20 degrees per second. At first I thought about bats, owls or some other nocturnal bird, but they usually fly in a formation of 3. Completely soundless, even minutes afterwards- so I don't think they could be supersonic jets. When they were detected, it was usually several times during the same night, sometimes multiple passes over parallel courses. Then no sightings for years and years. I have seen them mostly over the desert, can't recall seeing them over an alpine location. Anybody else ever notice these things? Any ideas besides hallucination? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Ann, that's so cool -- where were you? Thanks, Joe
Ok, so now you're getting us to admit seeing something odd as well, but we had decided not to describe to others (figuring suggestions of eye surgery or other forms of medical treatment). Early this summer Craig and I were viewing from our back yard and also looking through binoculars. Two nights in a week period, Craig said he saw a moving ark shaped dark shape (through the binoculars) that you did see it as much as you saw the shape blocking out the stars. I politely said nothing, because I didn't see it. The next week, to my surprise, I had the same experience through binoculars, and it lasted for several seconds. That shot my unsaid theory of Vietnam flashbacks for Craig, but I have no idea what we saw and we haven't seen it since. We both drew on paper what we saw and then showed them to each other to see how similar they were. Our best guess was some stealth military plane working on a Bush-like spy on your own people project.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission ..com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:12 AM To: Utah-Astro Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Odd objects
On more than one occassion, and over a span of decades, I have seen completely dark objects, "flying" in straight-line paths at night. Detected only by their silhouettes, as stars and the Milky Way winked-out when they passed. Always very fast, 10-20 degrees per second. At first I thought about bats, owls or some other nocturnal bird, but they usually fly in a formation of 3. Completely soundless, even minutes afterwards- so I don't think they could be supersonic jets. When they were detected, it was usually several times during the same night, sometimes multiple passes over parallel courses. Then no sightings for years and years. I have seen them mostly over the desert, can't recall seeing them over an alpine location.
Anybody else ever notice these things? Any ideas besides hallucination?
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Just our backyard, roughly 27th south and 3rd east in South Salt Lake, and we were looking south. It was really intriguing. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission .com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:28 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Odd objects Ann, that's so cool -- where were you? Thanks, Joe
Ok, so now you're getting us to admit seeing something odd as well, but we had decided not to describe to others (figuring suggestions of eye surgery or other forms of medical treatment). Early this summer Craig and I were viewing from our back yard and also looking through binoculars. Two nights in a week period, Craig said he saw a moving ark shaped dark shape (through the binoculars) that you did see it as much as you saw the shape blocking out the stars. I politely said nothing, because I didn't see it. The next week, to my surprise, I had the same experience through binoculars, and it lasted for several seconds. That shot my unsaid theory of Vietnam flashbacks for Craig, but I have no idea what we saw and we haven't seen it since. We both drew on paper what we saw and then showed them to each other to see how similar they were. Our best guess was some stealth military plane working on a Bush-like spy on your own people project.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+blanchard-a=ugs.utah.edu@mailman.xmissio n ..com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:12 AM To: Utah-Astro Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Odd objects
On more than one occassion, and over a span of decades, I have seen completely dark objects, "flying" in straight-line paths at night. Detected only by their silhouettes, as stars and the Milky Way winked-out when they passed. Always very fast, 10-20 degrees per second. At first I thought about bats, owls or some other nocturnal bird, but they usually fly in a formation of 3. Completely soundless, even minutes afterwards- so I don't think they could be supersonic jets. When they were detected, it was usually several times during the same night, sometimes multiple passes over parallel courses. Then no sightings for years and years. I have seen them mostly over the desert, can't recall seeing them over an alpine location.
Anybody else ever notice these things? Any ideas besides hallucination?
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Considering the news story I saw on KSL a few years ago, I'm convinced you both saw a covert-surveilance, remotely-piloted blimp. There have been several sightings around the valley from time-to-time. Your sighting is much more cool than my "duck matter". --- Ann Blanchard <blanchard-a@ugs.utah.edu> wrote:
Just our backyard, roughly 27th south and 3rd east in South Salt Lake, and we were looking south. It was really intriguing.
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participants (5)
-
Ann Blanchard -
Chuck Hards -
diveboss@xmission.com -
Joe Bauman -
Richard Tenney