
Some examples of pre-modern observations of unusual aerial phenomena: While UFO enthusiasts have sometimes commented on the narrative similarities between certain religious symbols in medieval paintings and UFO reports, the canonical and symbolic character of such images is documented by art historians placing more conventional religious interpretations on such images. Such accounts in history often were treated as supernatural portents, angels, or other religious omens. As it reaches the inner solar system every 76 years, it was often identified as a unique isolated event in ancient historical documents whose authors were unaware that it was a repeating phenomenon. One particularly famous example is Halley's Comet: this was recorded first by Chinese astronomers in 240 BC and possibly as early as 467 BC. People have observed the sky throughout history, and have sometimes seen unusual sights, such as comets, bright meteors, one or more of the five planets that can be readily seen with the naked eye, planetary conjunctions, and atmospheric optical phenomena such as parhelia and lenticular clouds. Skeptics find the phenomenon likely to have been a sun dog
UFO enthusiasts have described the phenomenon as an aerial battle of extraterrestrial origin. The 1561 celestial phenomenon over Nuremberg as printed in an illustrated news notice. History Early history before the 20th century 4.2.1 Claims by military, government, and aviation personnel.3.2.5.1 White House statement of November 2011.3.2.5 FOIA release of documents in 1978.
3.2.4.2 USAAF and FBI response to the 1947 sightings. 1.1 Early history before the 20th century. The 20th century saw studies and investigations into UFO reports conducted by governments (such as Projects Grudge and Sign in the United States, and Project Condign in the United Kingdom), as well as by organisations and individuals. While unusual sightings have been reported in the sky throughout history, UFOs did not achieve their current cultural prominence until the period after World War II, escalating during the Space Age. Beliefs surrounding UFOs have inspired parts of new religions. Small but vocal groups of " ufologists" favour unconventional, pseudoscientific hypotheses, often claiming that UFOs are evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Scientists and skeptic organizations such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry have provided prosaic explanations for a large number of claimed UFOs being caused by natural phenomena, human technology, delusions, or hoaxes. On investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a small number remain unexplained. Photograph of a purported UFO in Passaic, New Jersey, taken on July 31, 1952Īn unidentified flying object ( UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP ( unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. Nation of Islam#The Mother Plane and Ezekiel's Wheel. Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force - USA. Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program - USA.