Unidentified aerial phenomena I. Observations of events

Abstract: NASA commissioned a research team to study Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), observations of events that cannot scientifically be identified as known natural phenomena. The Main Astronomical Observatory of NAS of Ukraine conducts an independent study of UAP also. For UAP observations, we used two meteor stations. Observations were performed with colour video cameras in the daytime sky. We have developed a special observation technique, for detecting and evaluating UAP characteristics. According to our data, there are two types of UAP, which we conventionally call: (1) Cosmics, and (2) Phantoms. We note that Cosmics are luminous objects, brighter than the background of the sky. Phantoms are dark objects, with contrast from several to about 50 per cent. We observe a significant number of objects whose nature is not clear. Flights of single, group and squadrons of the ships were detected, moving at speeds from 3 to 15 degrees per second. Some bright objects exhibit regular brightness variability in the range of 10 - 20 Hz. We use colourimetry methods to determine of distance to objects and evaluate their colour characteristics. Objects RGB colours of the Adobe colour system had converted to the Johnson BVR astronomical colour system using the colour corrections. Phantom shows the colour characteristics inherent in an object with zero albedos. It is a completely black body that does not emit and absorbs all the radiation falling on it. We see an object because it shields radiation due to Rayleigh scattering. An object contrast makes it possible to estimate the distance using colourimetric methods. Phantoms are observed in the troposphere at distances up to 10 - 12 km. We estimate their size from 3 to 12 meters and speeds up to 15 km/s.

• The paper presents a robust dual-station methodology that classifies UAPs into two types: luminous Cosmics and non-luminous Phantoms.
• Observations employed high-speed CCD cameras and rapid shutter techniques to capture transient events moving 3 to 15 degrees per second.
• Findings offer significant implications for national security and challenge current astrophysical models, encouraging further multidisciplinary research.

Overview of "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena I. Observations of Events"

The study presented in the paper by Zhilyaev et al., observes and analyzes unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The research leverages a dual-station observational setup utilizing meteor detection technology in Ukraine. The exact purpose of this paper is to document phenomena that elude established scientific identification as known natural or anthropogenic occurrences. The authors offer an extensive, rigorous methodology to discern, quantify, and describe the characteristics of UAPs, leading to the introduction of two major categories: Cosmics and Phantoms.

Observational Technique and Data

The observational framework is notably centered around two video-equipped meteor stations sited approximately 120 km apart in Kyiv and Vinarivka village. These stations employ ASI 178 MC and ASI 294 Pro CCD cameras with Computar lenses, capturing events in the daytime sky. The method focuses on rapid events, utilizing high-speed shutter and frame rates to account for the transience and high velocities traditionally associated with UAPs. This setup effectively overcomes perceptual and technological limitations that may cause typical observational tools to overlook these phenomena.

Results

The findings of this research identify Cosmics and Phantoms as the two predominant classifications of UAP. Cosmics are delineated as luminous objects surpassing sky brightness, often geometrically structured and exhibiting diverse motion patterns, includingynchronized group movements. Phantoms, in contrast, are characterized by their non-luminosity and negligible albedo, effectively observed by their occlusion of background radiation as dictated by Rayleigh scattering.

Quantitative analysis in the study describes flights of individual, grouped, and squadron formations, moving between 3 to 15 degrees per second. A particularly noteworthy observation includes a variable object detected by both stations, located at an approximate altitude of 1170 km, exhibiting a flashing frequency of 20 Hz with significant luminosity variability over very short temporal intervals. The use of colorimetric assessments provides additional insights, estimating object distances and offering hypotheses concerning their structural compositions.

Implications and Future Directions

The implications of these observations are manifold, straddling practical and theoretical domains. Practically, understanding UAPs is suggested to relate directly to national security and air safety implications, mirroring institutional interests from agencies like NASA and the Pentagon. The methodology pioneered in this study could refine and enhance detection and identification processes for both scientific and strategic objectives.

From a theoretical perspective, these findings challenge traditional atmospheric and astrophysical notions, potentially insinuating new physical processes or unknown technological artifacts. The results pose significant paradigm considerations, encouraging further methodological innovation and cross-disciplinary exploration to elucidate the unidentified nature of these phenomena.

The paper makes potent contributions to atmospheric phenomenology research, advocating for enhanced observational techniques amid atmospheric and meters-varying events. Future studies can build upon these foundations, exploring high-resolution spectroscopic techniques and expanding observational networks for a more robust understanding of UAP dynamics and characteristics. Continued progress in such observational ventures could precipitate considerable advancements in our comprehension of both atmospheric science and the broader implications of these heretofore enigmatic aerial phenomena.