Black triangle (UFO)

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Drawing of the Phoenix Lights, an example of a black triangle UFO sighting PhoenixLights1997model.jpg
Drawing of the Phoenix Lights, an example of a black triangle UFO sighting

Black triangles are UFOs reported as having a triangular shape and dark color, typically observed at night, described as large, silent, hovering, moving slowly, and displaying pulsating, colored lights which they can turn off.

Contents

British sightings and UK Ministry of Defence Report

"An example UAP formation of the triangular type," depicted in a Technical Memorandum on the subject of UAP commissioned by the British government. Uapplasma.png
"An example UAP formation of the triangular type," depicted in a Technical Memorandum on the subject of UAP commissioned by the British government.

A declassified report from the UK Ministry of Defence, addressing Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) within the UK Air Defence Region and code named Project Condign, includes analyses of black triangle sightings. [2] [3] The report includes the statement that "the majority, if not all, of the hitherto unexplained reports may well be due to atmospheric gaseous electrically charged buoyant plasmas" that are "capable of being transported at enormous speeds under the influence and balance of electrical charges in the atmosphere." [4] The report also notes that "at least some" of the black triangle observations likely arise from meteor entry into the atmosphere.

Regarding the triangular shapes, the report also states: "Occasionally ... it seems that a field with, as yet, undetermined characteristics, can exist between certain charged buoyant objects in loose formation, such that, depending on the viewing aspect, the intervening space between them forms an area (viewed as a shape, often triangular) from which the reflection of light does not occur. This is a key finding in the attribution of what have frequently been reported as black 'craft,' often triangular and even up to hundreds of feet in length." [5] A recommendation in the report is that no attempt be made on the part of aircraft to intercept or outmaneuver these objects, and instead to place them astern to mitigate the risk of collision. [6] The report also speculates that the hypothesized plasma formations, through their "magnetic, electric or electromagnetic" fields, could have the potential to induce in observers vivid, but mainly incorrect, perceptions. [7]

The Project Condign report was not peer-reviewed, and some authors doubt its scientific veracity. [8]

Other sightings

1980s Hudson Valley sightings

During the early 1980s, several hundred people claimed to have witnessed UFOs flying over, or near to, the Hudson River in New York state. These sightings involved hovering or slowly flying V-shaped objects rimmed with colorful lights. Several pilots claimed responsibility for these UFOs, reporting that the objects, some tracked to a local airport and parking lot, were ultralight aircraft flown in formation. [9] [10]

1989–1992 Belgian wave

The famous image of an ostensible UFO in the 1990 wave. In 2011, its author, Patrick Marechal, announced that it was an undoctored picture of a homemade polystyrene triangle with four lightbulbs embedded. TriangleBelgium1990.jpg
The famous image of an ostensible UFO in the 1990 wave. In 2011, its author, Patrick Maréchal, announced that it was an undoctored picture of a homemade polystyrene triangle with four lightbulbs embedded.

The Belgian UFO wave began in November 1989. The events of 29 November were documented by over thirty different groups of witnesses and three separate groups of police officers. All of the reports related to a large object flying at a low altitude. The craft was flat and triangular, with lights underneath. This giant craft did not make a sound as it slowly moved across the landscape of Belgium.

The Belgian UFO Wave of 1989–1992 – A Neglected Hypothesis discusses some sightings that helicopters can explain. Most witnesses reported that the objects were silent. This report argues that the lack of noise could be due to the engine noise in the witnesses' automobiles or the strong natural wind blowing away from the witnesses. [14]

Black triangle UFOs have been claimed to be visible to radar. During the 1989–1990 Belgian UFO wave, two Belgian Air Force F-16s attempted to intercept an object detected by radar, but the pilots did not report seeing an object. This entire Belgian UFO wave, however, has been disputed by skeptics. [14] [11]

1997 Phoenix Lights incident

A widely reported appearance(s) of black triangles involved the "Phoenix Lights" events, during which multiple unidentified objects were observed near Phoenix, Arizona and videotaped by both the local media and residents beginning on Thursday, March 13, 1997. Some observed objects/lights appeared to be grouped in a large "V" formation that lingered for several minutes. Some residents reported one of the black triangles to be over a mile wide and that it drifted slowly over their houses, blocking out the night sky's stars.

An official report from the US Air Force concluded that the military had been locally testing aircraft-launched flares during that period.

2000 Southern Illinois incident

The "St. Clair Triangle", "UFO Over Illinois", "Southern Illinois UFO", or "Highland, Illinois UFO" sighting occurred on January 5, 2000 over the towns of Highland, Dupo, Lebanon, Shiloh, Summerfield, Millstadt, and O'Fallon, Illinois, beginning shortly after 4:00 am. [15] The incident was featured in several television shows including Seeing is Believing, a Discovery Channel special UFOs Over Illinois, and an episode of the Syfy series Proof Positive . Sufjan Stevens included this incident in the song "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" from his 2005 album Illinois. The FAA said sighting reports may have been due to an advertising blimp operated in the area by the American Blimp Company. [16] [17] [15]

2004–2006 Tinley Park Lights

Three red lights hovered in a triangular formation were seen by multiple witnesses in Tinley Park and Oak Forest, Illinois, on August 21, 2004, two months later on October 31, 2004, again on October 1, 2005, and once again on October 31, 2006. Some witnesses photographed the lights and captured them on video. According to some ufologists, the video evidence suggests that the lights kept the geometrical shape and moved as if they were attached through a dark object. The incident was examined in a Dateline NBC episode on May 18, 2008, and in the episode "Invasion Illinois" of the television series UFO Hunters premiered on The History Channel on October 29, 2008. [18] [19] [20]

2008 Stephenville, Texas

Around 8 January 2008, there was a mass sighting in Stephenville, Texas. [21] [22] In the 2023 Netflix documentary series Encounters, it is claimed that there were black triangles and inside were what looked like insects or a praying mantis.

Military aircraft

Classified military aircraft may be responsible for many black triangle UFO reports. Several such sightings have been reported over Antelope Valley, an area of desert in southern California. This stretch of desert draws people interested in potential "black project" aircraft because it is close to several known military research and testing areas, such as Edwards Air Force Base in California and United States Air Force Plant 42. A geographic analysis by the now-inactive National Institute for Discovery Science suggested that black triangles might be U.S. Air Force craft. [23]

At least some of the proposed military types may be fictitious. [24] [25] The Northrop TR-3A Black Manta is a speculative surveillance aircraft purported to belong to the United States Air Force and to have been developed under a black project. It was said to be a subsonic stealth spy plane with a flying wing design. It was alleged to have been used in the Gulf War to provide laser designation for Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk bombers, for targeting to use with laser-guided bombs (since the F-117 possesses a laser designator, the reason for both aircraft being utilized is unclear). There is little evidence to support the TR-3's existence; however, it is possible that black triangle UFO reports associated with Black Manta could be a technology demonstrator for a potential new-generation tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and/or that TR-3 refers to a Technical Refresh of an existing program. [24] [25]

Geoscientist Ben McGee has identified border patrol drones with infrared anti-collision or identification lights to explain some black triangles. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ufology</span> Study of UFOs

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disappearance of Frederick Valentich</span> 1978 disappearance of a pilot over Bass Strait, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maury Island hoax</span> Alleged UFO incident in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rendlesham Forest incident</span> 1980 UFO report in Suffolk, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shag Harbour UFO incident</span> Alleged UFO crash off the coast of Nova Scotia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Lights</span> 1997 light phenomenon over Arizona, USA

The Phoenix Lights were a series of widely sighted unidentified flying objects observed in the skies over the southwestern U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada on March 13, 1997.

Identifying unidentified flying objects (UFOs) is a difficult task due to the normally poor quality of the evidence provided by those who report sighting the unknown object. Observations and subsequent reporting are often made by those untrained in astronomy, atmospheric phenomena, aeronautics, physics, and perception. Nevertheless, most officially investigated UFO sightings, such as from the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, have been identified as being due to honest misidentifications of natural phenomena, aircraft, or other prosaic explanations. In early U.S. Air Force attempts to explain UFO sightings, unexplained sightings routinely numbered over one in five reports. However, in early 1953, right after the CIA's Robertson Panel, percentages of unexplained sightings dropped precipitously, usually being only a few percent in any given year. When Project Blue Book closed down in 1970, only 6% of all cases were classified as being truly unidentified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Tehran UFO incident</span> Radar and visual sighting of a UFO over Tehran, Iran

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The Belgian UFO wave was a series of sightings of triangular UFOs in Belgium, which lasted from 29 November 1989 to April 1990.

This is a list of alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects or UFOs in Belgium.

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The most widely reported UFO incident in New Zealand, and the only one investigated, involved the Kaikoura lights encountered by aircraft, filmed and tracked by radar in December 1978. The New Zealand Defence Force does not take an official interest in UFO reports, but in December 2010 it released files on hundreds of purported UFO reports. New Zealand's then-Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp said at the time people could "make what they will" of the reports, and said "a quick scan of the files indicates that virtually everything has a natural explanation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Alderney UFO sighting</span> Reported UFO sighting

In the afternoon of 23 April 2007, Ray Bowyer, a pilot flying south towards the island of Alderney in the English Channel sighted unidentified flying objects. He reported the sighting to an air traffic controller who told him that a second pilot had seen something similar. In Bowyer's report to the British Civil Aviation Authority he said he saw two bright, stationary objects. Two passengers on Bowyer's aircraft said that they saw unusual coloured lights at the same time. Proposed explanations for the sighting have included earthquake lights and sun dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Hudson Valley UFO sightings</span> 1984 alleged UFO sighting in New York and Connecticut

The 1984 Hudson Valley UFO Sightings, also called "The Westchester Boomerang", were UFO sightings that stretched throughout 1983–1984 in New York and Western Connecticut. Pilots flew Cessna 152s in tight formation with bright lights that could change colors. State police reported that the pilots expressed amusement at the confusion caused by their hoax. Subsequent news stories, books, and other publicity helped make the sightings significant in local history and ufology lore.

References

  1. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary, Defence Intelligence Staff (2000), p. 1". Mod.uk. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  2. ↑ "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defense Region: Executive Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  3. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region". Mod.uk. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  4. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region: Volume 3 Executive Summary, Defence Intelligence Staff (2000), p. 2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  5. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary, Defence Intelligence Staff (2000), p. 7". Mod.uk. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  6. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary, Defence Intelligence Staff (2000), p. 11". Mod.uk. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  7. ↑ "UAP In the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary, Defence Intelligence Staff (2000), pp. 7–8". Mod.uk. 2007-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  8. ↑ Stenhoff, Mark; James, Adrian (2016). Extreme weather : forty years of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. pp. 227–228. ISBN   978-1118949962.
  9. ↑ Dunning, Brian. "The Hudson Valley UFO Mystery". Skeptoid. Skeptoid Media, Inc. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  10. ↑ Schmalz, Jeffrey (1984-08-25). "Strange Sights Brighten the Night Skies Upstate". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  11. 1 2 Dunning, Brian (2016-09-27). "Skeptoid #538: The Belgian UFO Wave". Skeptoid . Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Vey, Tristan (28 July 2011). "La photo d'un ovni belge célèbre était un trucage". Le Figaro .
  13. ↑ "Photos d'ovnis: la plus célèbre était fausse". Science et Vie. 28 September 2011.
  14. 1 2 "The Belgian UFO Wave of 1989–1992 – A Neglected Hypothesis" (PDF). Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  15. 1 2 Stage, William (2000-04-05). "Space Case – Witnesses testify in the mystery of the Metro East UFO". Riverfront Times. Euclid Media Group LLC. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  16. ↑ Dunning, Brian. "The St. Clair Triangle UFO". Skeptoid. Skeptoid Media Inc. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  17. ↑ Mack, Eric. "Debunking my own UFO sighting, 14 years later". cnet.com. CNET . Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "ABC7Chicago.com: Lights in sky over Tinley Park have UFO believers looking up". 17 February 2007. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ Dekker, Julie. "Remembering the 'Tinley Park lights'". ChicagoTribune.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Tinley Park UFO sightings — discuss". ChicagoTribune.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  21. ↑ Joiner, Angelia (10 January 2008). "Possible UFO Sighting". Stephenville Empire-Tribune . Stephenville, Texas.
  22. ↑ "Dozens Claim They Spotted UFO in Texas". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. 16 January 2008.
  23. ↑ "David, L. 2004, Sept. "Flying Triangle" sightings on the rise, NBC News". NBC News .
  24. 1 2 Pope, Gregory T. Archive link: "America's New Secret Aircraft", Popular Mechanics , Vol. 168, No. 12, December 1991.
  25. 1 2 Mystery Aircraft: TR-3A, Global Security. (retrieved 28 March 2022)
  26. ↑ Wolchover, Natalie (2012-07-18). "'Invisible UFOs' Fill the Skies". LiveScience. Future US, Inc. Retrieved 2020-09-28.

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