For 15 years, scientists have benefited from data gleaned by U.S. classified satellites of natural fireball events in Earth's atmosphere – but no longer.
A recent U.S. military policy decision now explicitly states that observations by hush-hush government spacecraft of incoming bolides and fireballs are classified secret and are not to be released, SPACE.com has learned.
The satellites' main objectives include detecting nuclear bomb tests, and their characterizations of asteroids and lesser meteoroids as they crash through the atmosphere has been a byproduct data bonanza for scientists.
The upshot: Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified.
"It's baffling to us why this would suddenly change," said one scientist familiar with the work. "It's unfortunate because there was this great synergy...a very good cooperative arrangement. Systems were put into dual-use mode where a lot of science was getting done that couldn't be done any other way. It's a regrettable change in policy."
Scientists say not only will research into the threat from space be hampered, but public understanding of sometimes dramatic sky explosions will be diminished, perhaps leading to hype and fear of the unknown.
Incoming!
Most "shooting stars" are caused by natural space debris no larger than peas. But routinely, rocks as big as basketballs and even small cars crash into the atmosphere. Most vaporize or explode on the way in, but some reach the surface or explode above the surface. Understandably, scientists want to know about these events so they can better predict the risk here on Earth.
Yet because the world is two-thirds ocean, most incoming objects aren't visible to observers on the ground. Many other incoming space rocks go unnoticed because daylight drowns them out.
Over the last decade or so, hundreds of these events have been spotted by the classified satellites. Priceless observational information derived from the spacecraft were made quickly available, giving researchers such insights as time, a location, height above the surface, as well as light-curves to help pin down the amount of energy churned out from the fireballs.
To read the rest of the artical:
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090610/BREAKINGNEWS/90610048/1007/rss06
Saturday, June 13, 2009
China: Morphing UFO seen in Taiyuan, photos
On 6 June at around 6pm a Mr Goa was driving through the Chinese city of Taiyuan near the Yi-Fen bridge when he saw a totally unexplainable object or UFO hovering in the sky above him. Mr Goa pulled up at the side of the road and observed the object for around 40minutes. He managed to take a number of photos (below) with his mobile phone.
Mr Goa noted that the object changed shape from a diamond to an orb and while it generally stayed in the same area it swung from side to side before shooting up into the sky. At one point Mr Goa alleges that the UFO had a faint halo. Mr Goa handed his pictures in to the local astronomy station. He believes he witnessed an extraterrestrial vehicle.
China generally has more reported UFO sightings than any other country on earth and it is believed that the Chinese Government takes a keen interest in the topic.
Source: http://www.allnewsweb.com
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Any Ideas or Suggestions?
Sorry to any viewers of my Blog. I haven't posted in a couple days because I haven't found anything that moved me. I try to only post what I believe to be real, though even then, who knows. I do my best. But the last couple days its dried up a bit, and there are just small reports here and there. Im sure that a lot more is going on all over the world. If you have any suggestions for postings, let me know - just email me.
Be well,
claypaff
Be well,
claypaff
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Amazing photos of a craft/UFO near Rice Lake, Ontario Canada
Due to copyright I can't copy the artical, but I will post a link to the artical about a sighting in Ontario Canada from 2008 that is a must see. Its strange when they copyright this stuff, because it really limits who gets to see the information.
I will post a picture to provoke interest, and hope that doesn't get me in trouble.
Source: http://www.ufoarea.com/rc_unknownblackcraft.html
Saturday, June 6, 2009
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