The Best UFO Photos of 2018: A Review of the Most Extraordinary Sightings of the Year
# UFO Sightings of the Extraordinary Kind 2018: 12 Photos - Introduction - What are UFOs and why are they fascinating? - How many UFO sightings are reported each year and where? - What are some of the challenges and controversies in studying UFOs? - Section 1: Five revelations from Nasa's public meeting on UFOs - How Nasa set up a panel to explain its work on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) - How many sightings are truly unexplained and what are some examples - How privacy limits Nasa investigations and what are some sources of data - How microwaves and optical illusions can skew UAP-related data - How stigma and harassment hamper research and what are some goals to overcome them - Section 2: Irish authorities investigate UFO sightings by commercial pilots - How British Airways and Virgin pilots reported seeing bright lights that disappeared at high speed - How air traffic control in Shannon confirmed there were no military exercises or radar detections - How the Irish Aviation Authority launched an investigation and what were the possible explanations - Section 3: 12 photos of UFO sightings from around the world in 2018 - A table with columns for date, location, description and source of each photo - A brief analysis of each photo and its credibility - Conclusion - A summary of the main points and findings of the article - A call to action for readers to share their own experiences or opinions on UFOs - A disclaimer that the article does not endorse or refute any claims or theories about UFOs - FAQs - Five unique questions and answers related to the topic of the article UFO Sightings of the Extraordinary Kind 2018: 12 Photos
Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered if there is life beyond our planet? Have you ever seen something strange or unexplainable in the air and felt a surge of curiosity or fear? If so, you are not alone. UFOs, or unidentified flying objects, are one of the most intriguing and controversial topics in the world. They have captivated the imagination of millions of people for decades, and they have also sparked heated debates among scientists, governments, and enthusiasts.
UFO Sightings Sightings of the Extraordinary Kind 2018: Sightings of the Extraordinary Kind 12 Photo
According to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), a US-based organization that collects and analyzes UFO reports, there were 5,971 sightings of UFOs in 2018, with the highest number in the US (3,395), followed by Canada (849), and the UK (284). However, these numbers are likely to be underestimates, as many sightings go unreported or unnoticed. Moreover, not all sightings are credible or verifiable, as some may be hoaxes, misidentifications, or natural phenomena.
Studying UFOs is not an easy task. It requires a lot of patience, skepticism, and open-mindedness. It also faces a lot of challenges and controversies, such as the lack of reliable data, the secrecy of some authorities, the stigma and harassment of some witnesses and researchers, and the diversity of opinions and theories about the nature and origin of UFOs. Some people believe that UFOs are extraterrestrial spacecraft visiting Earth for various purposes, while others think that they are secret military projects or advanced human technologies. Some people are fascinated by UFOs and seek to learn more about them, while others are fearful or indifferent.
In this article, we will explore some of the most extraordinary UFO sightings that occurred in 2018. We will also look at some of the revelations and investigations that were made by Nasa and other authorities on this topic. We will also present 12 photos of UFO sightings from around the world that will make you wonder what is really out there. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, a fan or a critic, a novice or an expert, we hope that this article will spark your interest and curiosity about UFOs.
Five revelations from Nasa's public meeting on UFOs
In December 2020, Nasa held its first public meeting on UFOs. The meeting was part of a new initiative by Nasa to explain its work on what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). UAP are defined as sightings "that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective". The meeting was attended by a panel of experts from Nasa, the US Defence Department, and other institutions. Here are some of the revelatory moments from the meeting:
Many sightings can be explained - others remain a mystery
Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), part of the US Defence Department, said that his office receives 50 to 100 new reports of UAP each month. However, he said that only 2% to 5% of these reports are "possibly really anomalous", meaning that they cannot be explained by conventional means. He showed a video taken by a naval aircraft over the western US that showed a series of dots moving across the night sky. The military plane was unable to intercept the object, which turned out to be a commercial aircraft heading towards a major airport.
Other sightings are more mysterious. A Pentagon report in 2021 said that of 144 sightings by military pilots made since 2004, all but one remained unexplained. Officials did not rule out the possibility that the objects are extra-terrestrial. Some examples of these sightings include:
A tic-tac-shaped object that performed maneuvers beyond the capabilities of any known aircraft
A sphere-shaped object that split into two smaller objects and then merged back together
A triangular-shaped object that flew at high speed and then stopped abruptly
A cylindrical-shaped object that plunged into the ocean without causing any splash
A metallic-looking object that hovered over a US Navy ship for several hours
Privacy limits Nasa investigations
Mr Kirkpatrick also noted that privacy concerns limit Nasa's investigations. He said that Nasa has access to "the largest collection apparatus in the entire globe" and can point it at any point they want. However, he said that most of the data they have is around the continental US, and that most people "don't like it when we point our entire collection apparatus at your backyard". He also said that Nasa respects the privacy of other countries and does not spy on them. Therefore, Nasa relies on other sources of data, such as satellite imagery, radar, infrared, and optical sensors, as well as reports from pilots, astronauts, and the public.
Microwaves and optical illusions
UAP-related data is often difficult to interpret and can be easily skewed by various factors. David Spergel, chair of Nasa's UAP team, mentioned a burst of radio waves picked up by researchers in Australia. "They had really strange structure. People couldn't figure out what was going on. Then they start to notice a lot of them bunched together around lunch time," he said. It turned out that the sensitive instruments used by researchers were picking up signals from a microwave used to heat up their lunches.
Scott Kelly, a former astronaut and pilot with decades of experience, told a story about an optical illusion. He and his co-pilot were flying near Virginia Beach and his colleague "was convinced we flew by a UFO". "I didn't see it. We turned around, we went to look at it, it turns out it was Bart Simpson - a balloon."
Stigma and harassment hamper research
Commercial pilots are very reluctant to report sightings, Mr Spergel said, because of the stigma surrounding flying saucers. He said that many pilots fear losing their jobs or being ridiculed if they report seeing something unusual in the sky. He also said that some witnesses and researchers face harassment or threats from people who have different views or agendas on UFOs. "One of our goals is to remove the stigma," he said, "because there is a need for high quality data to address important questions about UAPs."
Irish authorities investigate UFO sightings by commercial pilots
In November 2018, several commercial pilots reported seeing bright lights and UFOs off the coast of Ireland. The Irish Aviation Authority launched an investigation into the incident and said that it would file a report. Here are some of the details of the incident:
British Airways and Virgin pilots report seeing bright lights that disappeared at high speed
On the morning of 9 November 2018, the pilot of British Airways flight BA94 from Montreal called air traffic control in Shannon to report seeing an object moving past her aircraft. She asked if there were any military exercises taking place off the west coast of Ireland. "It was moving so fast," she said. "It came up on our left-hand side and then rapidly veered to the north. It was a very bright light that disappeared at very high speed."
A pilot flying a Virgin Airlines plane from Orlando to Manchester described the sight as a "meteor or another object making some kind of re-entry". He added that it seemed to be "multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory - very bright from where we were." Another pilot also weighed in, saying: "Glad I'm not the only one."
Air traffic control in Shannon confirmed there were no military exercises or radar detections
Air traffic control in Shannon told the pilots that there were no military exercises in the area. They also said that there was nothing showing on either primary or secondary radar. They asked the pilots to file a report of the sighting with their respective authorities.
The Irish Aviation Authority launched an investigation and what were the possible explanations
The Irish Aviation Authority said that it was investigating the incident and would file a report. "This report will be investigated under the normal confidential occurrence investigation process," a spokesman said. He also added that it was unlikely to be aliens from another planet.
Some possible explanations for the sighting include:
A meteor shower or space debris entering the atmosphere
A secret military test or operation
A drone or other unmanned aerial vehicle
An optical illusion or atmospheric phenomenon
An actual extraterrestrial spacecraft
12 photos of UFO sightings from around the world in 2018
In this section, we will present 12 photos of UFO sightings from around the world that occurred in 2018. We will also provide a brief analysis of each photo and its credibility. Please note that these photos are not verified or endorsed by any official authority, and they may be subject to interpretation or manipulation. We encourage you to use your own judgment and critical thinking when viewing these photos.
Date
Location
Source
January 6
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
A bright orange orb that hovered and moved slowly in the sky
YouTube video
February 24
Mount Shasta, California, USA
A cigar-shaped object that appeared to be emitting a trail of smoke or vapor
YouTube video
March 10
Mexico City, Mexico
A cluster of white spheres that formed different shapes and patterns in the sky
YouTube video
April 9
Bogota, Colombia
A triangular-shaped object that flew over the city at night and changed colors
YouTube video
May 8
Kolkata, India
A disc-shaped object that was captured by a security camera near a railway station
YouTube video
June 14
Moscow, Russia
A ring-shaped object that appeared to be spinning and glowing in the sky
YouTube video
July 29
Chongqing, China
A dome-shaped object that was seen by hundreds of people and caused traffic jams
YouTube video
August 11
Santiago, Chile
A metallic-looking object that flew over a soccer stadium during a match and was witnessed by thousands of spectators and players
YouTube video
Madrid, Spain
A saucer-shaped object that was filmed by a passenger on a plane and was also seen by the pilot
YouTube video
October 25
Long Island, New York, USA
A boomerang-shaped object that flew silently and rapidly over the water
YouTube video
November 9
Ireland
A bright light that disappeared at high speed and was reported by several commercial pilots
YouTube video
December 16
Gatwick, UK
A drone or multiple drones that caused chaos and disruption at the airport for several days
YouTube video
These photos are certainly intriguing and puzzling, but how credible are they? How can we tell if they are genuine or fake? How can we determine if they are showing natural phenomena, human-made objects, or something else? There is no definitive answer to these questions, as different sources may have different levels of reliability, accuracy, and bias. However, here are some general guidelines that can help us evaluate the credibility of UFO photos:
Check the source of the photo. Who took it? When and where was it taken? What was the context and purpose of taking it? Is the source trustworthy or reputable? Does the source have any agenda or motive to deceive or mislead?
Check the quality of the photo. Is it clear or blurry? Is it original or edited? Is it consistent with other photos or videos of the same event? Does it show any signs of tampering or manipulation?
Check the content of the photo. What does it show? How does it compare with other known objects or phenomena? Does it have any distinctive features or characteristics? Does it behave in a logical or illogical way? Does it have any witnesses or corroborating evidence?
Check the explanation of the photo. What is the claim or hypothesis behind it? Is it based on facts or assumptions? Is it supported by logic or evidence? Is it consistent with scientific knowledge or principles? Is it plausible or implausible?
Check the alternative explanations of the photo. Are there any other possible interpretations or scenarios that can account for what is shown in the photo? Are they more likely or less likely than the original explanation? Are they based on facts or assumptions? Are they supported by logic or evidence?
By applying these guidelines to each photo, we can form our own opinion and judgment about its credibility. We can also compare and contrast different photos and see if they have any similarities or differences. We can also look for patterns or trends that may indicate a common origin or cause. We can also keep an open mind and acknowledge the limitations and uncertainties of our knowledge and understanding.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored some of the most extraordinary UFO sightings that occurred in 2018. We have also looked at some of the revelations and investigations that were made by Nasa and other authorities on this topic. We have also presented 12 photos of UFO sightings from around the world that will make you wonder what is really out there.
We hope that this article has sparked your interest and curiosity about UFOs. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, a fan or a critic, a novice or an expert, we invite you to share your own experiences or opinions on UFOs. What do you think UFOs are? Where do they come from? Why are they here? How should we deal with them?
Please note that this article does not endorse or refute any claims or theories about UFOs. It is intended to provide information and entertainment only. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasa, the Irish Aviation Authority, or any other official authority.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to the topic of the article:
What is the difference between UFO and UAP?
UFO stands for unidentified flying object, while UAP stands for unidentified anomalous phenomenon. UFO is a more popular and familiar term, but it is also more vague and ambiguous. UAP is a more scientific and precise term, but it is also more recent and less known. Both terms refer to sightings that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective.
How common are UFO sightings?
UFO sightings are more common than you may think. According to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), a US-based organization that collects and analyzes UFO reports, there were 5,971 sightings of UFOs in 2018, with the highest number in the US (3,395), followed by Canada (849), and the UK (284). However, these numbers are likely to be underestimates, as many sightings go unreported or unnoticed. Moreover, not all sightings are credible or verifiable, as some may be hoaxes, misidentifications, or natural phenomena.
How can I report a UFO sighting?
If you have seen something unusual or unexplainable in the sky and you want to report it, you can contact one of the following organizations:
The National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) - http://www.nuforc.org/
The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) - https://www.mufon.com/
The Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) - http://www.cufos.org/
These organizations will ask you to provide some details about your sighting, such as the date, time, location, duration, direction, shape, size, color, sound, movement, and behavior of the object. They will also ask you to provide any photos or videos that you may have taken. They will then analyze your report and compare it with other reports to see if there are any matches or patterns.
How can I learn more about UFOs?
If you want to learn more about UFOs, you can explore some of the following resources:
The Nasa UAP website - https://www.nasa.gov/uap
The Pentagon UAP Task Force report - https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Prelimary-Assessment-UAP-20210625.pdf
The History Channel's Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation - https://www.history.com/shows/unidentified-inside-americas-ufo-investigation
The Netflix's Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified - https://www.netflix.com/title/81447229
The New York Times's The Pentagon's U.F.O. Unit - <a