Comments on: The Thunder of UFOs http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:46:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bert http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-2/#comment-136525 Bert Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:37:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-136525 I live in the DC metro area, 3 miles across the river from DC in Va. I've lived here all my life, across the river from Andrews, down the street from Fort Belvior, I regularly go to Reagan Airport to watch the planes come and go right over my head. Fort Belvior is a base of many abilities, from engineering, to communications, to being the outfit that regularly practices runs up the river in simulating clearing capitol hill of all government employees in a mass evacuation. I've gone to many air shows at Andrews AFB, I flown on puddle jumpers to 777 all the time. I've been to proving grounds in Aberdeen, MD and A.P. Hill, Va. I can distinct between many noises from years of hunting, being able to tell if high bore rifles are shot, shotguns, blackpowder,etc. I can tell the difference between air medical copters, the Prez's Marine helo, news copters and appaches. I live in the flight zone where every piece of military flying machinery flies over my house for funerals of fallen heroes at Arlington Cemetery. During the attacks of 9/11, I was only a mile or two from the Pentagon. I was in a glass building watching everything unfold. We were buzzed by a few fighter jets, they were screaming over us, making runs up and down the city. I knew right away what they were since I go to the beach around Va. and the Carolinas. We are constantly buzzed down there, in DC, it never happened prior to 9/11. I know what a sonic boom sounds like, its very local, very fast, very high pressured. It doesn't last long, it is a series of poops, very pronounced, meaning there is no doubt something just shook the house and people are screaming if they never heard one, kids will cry when its over. About a year ago, the day that Iran's President Armadinjad (sp?) was at the UN giving his speech, I was in a very busy, luxury restaurant about 10 miles outside downtown DC. Ironic thing is, the restaurant is at the bottom level of a very large, tall building which serves as world wide headquarters to General Dynamics. I was there, sunset on a nice, clear evening on a Saturday, there must of been 300 people in this place when I first heard this boom. Now, it started as a roar, like the end of a long, rumbling thunder strike. Not a sharp one, like one of those long, grumbling types, except that it was long, like I heard it for a good 5 secs. then I started timing it. I looked around, no one noticed a damn thing. A friend of mine saw me and asked what was wrong, this is a friend that hunts with me and can hear a pin drop a mile away like me. I asked him to step outside, we shut the door and it was more pronounced. His quote was "what in the F is going on here?" We both agreed that the noise was covering the entire region, meaning it wasn't a plane and encompassed horizon to horizon. Everything shook, but at a low rumbling, pace. It lasted a good 30 secs. Now what makes this even better is 5 miles away, my sitter calls me saying that she took my two girls downstairs because the condo was shaking, they ran down 6 floors to the basement, my kids crying. She was freaked out, she didn't know what to tell the girls, they were all crying. I told her that whatever it was, it was over, that I'd check the news. My condo over looks DC, my kids and I get a kick out of seeing B2, B117, A10, F14, etc flyover because of funerals, football games, ceremonies, etc. My 4 and 6 year old later told me that whatever they heard, was 10 worse than any of the fly overs. The sitter even said she looked over the balcony to the city, she saw nothing, but when she looked down, people on the streets were cowering and looking up, car alarms were going off. I just heard one the other night at around 3am I think. Clear night and I can sleep through bombs going off, I was in deep REM sleep. I woke up with my heart pounding, the house shaking and that same rumble that lasted 45 secs. this time. I ran to the window, nothing. I laid down, then I'm not sure how much longer, boom again it goes, just as long in duration. I spoke with my daughter who was at her cousin's house that night, 18 miles away and she told me that thunder woke her up at 3am. I asked her what it sounded like and she said "well I say thunder because that is the loudest thing I know, it was louder, like the time at the condo." OK, very long post people but something is going on. Is it Aurora? Who knows what it is called, but whatever it is, it's fast and its Fing loud. I've called 911, nothing. I emailed and spoke on the phone with local news, nada. I looked online, nothing. I do have 2 other people that heard it and all of agree........we thought it was armagedon. (Sp?) Seriously, I thought it was over, like I was waiting for the four horsemen, etc. I was crapping my pants because I couldn't explain it, it shook the entire sky and ground. WTF is all I am hearing? I am talking about some serious ground pounding noise. I wouldn't call it noise because calling it noise sounds like I am reffering to a firecracker instead of this colousal roar. There is no way that this isn't Aurora or whatever it is called, it HAS to be a Scramjet of somesort. I did see a weather satelite image, black and white of the US, shot in 07 sometime. There is one (1) contrail from the west coast to just south of the DC metro area that goes off to sea. Kinda proves my theory, unless the images were doctored. Hard to explain a contrail from almost coast to coast. So, many smart men of this site, what was it? How can I document this? Do I audio tape 24/7 on my balcony hoping for some evidence? This does not make sense, that no one else or that many people are not commenting on this in my area. Maybe I should start my own website? Enough, your comments please. I live in the DC metro area, 3 miles across the river from DC in Va. I’ve lived here all my life, across the river from Andrews, down the street from Fort Belvior, I regularly go to Reagan Airport to watch the planes come and go right over my head. Fort Belvior is a base of many abilities, from engineering, to communications, to being the outfit that regularly practices runs up the river in simulating clearing capitol hill of all government employees in a mass evacuation.
I’ve gone to many air shows at Andrews AFB, I flown on puddle jumpers to 777 all the time. I’ve been to proving grounds in Aberdeen, MD and A.P. Hill, Va. I can distinct between many noises from years of hunting, being able to tell if high bore rifles are shot, shotguns, blackpowder,etc. I can tell the difference between air medical copters, the Prez’s Marine helo, news copters and appaches. I live in the flight zone where every piece of military flying machinery flies over my house for funerals of fallen heroes at Arlington Cemetery.
During the attacks of 9/11, I was only a mile or two from the Pentagon. I was in a glass building watching everything unfold. We were buzzed by a few fighter jets, they were screaming over us, making runs up and down the city. I knew right away what they were since I go to the beach around Va. and the Carolinas. We are constantly buzzed down there, in DC, it never happened prior to 9/11. I know what a sonic boom sounds like, its very local, very fast, very high pressured. It doesn’t last long, it is a series of poops, very pronounced, meaning there is no doubt something just shook the house and people are screaming if they never heard one, kids will cry when its over.
About a year ago, the day that Iran’s President Armadinjad (sp?) was at the UN giving his speech, I was in a very busy, luxury restaurant about 10 miles outside downtown DC. Ironic thing is, the restaurant is at the bottom level of a very large, tall building which serves as world wide headquarters to General Dynamics. I was there, sunset on a nice, clear evening on a Saturday, there must of been 300 people in this place when I first heard this boom.
Now, it started as a roar, like the end of a long, rumbling thunder strike. Not a sharp one, like one of those long, grumbling types, except that it was long, like I heard it for a good 5 secs. then I started timing it. I looked around, no one noticed a damn thing. A friend of mine saw me and asked what was wrong, this is a friend that hunts with me and can hear a pin drop a mile away like me. I asked him to step outside, we shut the door and it was more pronounced. His quote was “what in the F is going on here?” We both agreed that the noise was covering the entire region, meaning it wasn’t a plane and encompassed horizon to horizon. Everything shook, but at a low rumbling, pace. It lasted a good 30 secs.
Now what makes this even better is 5 miles away, my sitter calls me saying that she took my two girls downstairs because the condo was shaking, they ran down 6 floors to the basement, my kids crying. She was freaked out, she didn’t know what to tell the girls, they were all crying. I told her that whatever it was, it was over, that I’d check the news. My condo over looks DC, my kids and I get a kick out of seeing B2, B117, A10, F14, etc flyover because of funerals, football games, ceremonies, etc. My 4 and 6 year old later told me that whatever they heard, was 10 worse than any of the fly overs. The sitter even said she looked over the balcony to the city, she saw nothing, but when she looked down, people on the streets were cowering and looking up, car alarms were going off.
I just heard one the other night at around 3am I think. Clear night and I can sleep through bombs going off, I was in deep REM sleep. I woke up with my heart pounding, the house shaking and that same rumble that lasted 45 secs. this time. I ran to the window, nothing. I laid down, then I’m not sure how much longer, boom again it goes, just as long in duration. I spoke with my daughter who was at her cousin’s house that night, 18 miles away and she told me that thunder woke her up at 3am. I asked her what it sounded like and she said “well I say thunder because that is the loudest thing I know, it was louder, like the time at the condo.”
OK, very long post people but something is going on. Is it Aurora? Who knows what it is called, but whatever it is, it’s fast and its Fing loud. I’ve called 911, nothing. I emailed and spoke on the phone with local news, nada. I looked online, nothing. I do have 2 other people that heard it and all of agree……..we thought it was armagedon. (Sp?) Seriously, I thought it was over, like I was waiting for the four horsemen, etc. I was crapping my pants because I couldn’t explain it, it shook the entire sky and ground.
WTF is all I am hearing? I am talking about some serious ground pounding noise. I wouldn’t call it noise because calling it noise sounds like I am reffering to a firecracker instead of this colousal roar. There is no way that this isn’t Aurora or whatever it is called, it HAS to be a Scramjet of somesort.
I did see a weather satelite image, black and white of the US, shot in 07 sometime. There is one (1) contrail from the west coast to just south of the DC metro area that goes off to sea. Kinda proves my theory, unless the images were doctored. Hard to explain a contrail from almost coast to coast.
So, many smart men of this site, what was it? How can I document this? Do I audio tape 24/7 on my balcony hoping for some evidence? This does not make sense, that no one else or that many people are not commenting on this in my area. Maybe I should start my own website?

Enough, your comments please.

]]> By: Kord http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14495 Kord Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:44:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14495 I live in Clarkston, WA! On April 4th, around 1-2 I thought a plane was crashing into my house, I live by the airport, ran outside so I WOULD NOT GET KILLED and at that moment a boom echoed throughout the valley, THUNDEROUS, I MEAN THUNDEROUS. After that I went back inside, and back to normalcy. AFTER A MINUTE OF SILENCE I START TO HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. AN F-16 FIGHTER JET FLYS BY LOW, YOU CAN SEE THE PILOT AND A MISSLE, OH AND THE NOISE CREATED BY THE JET WAS WEAK IN COMPARISON, EVEN WHEN THE F -16 FLEW LOW OVER THE WATER, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE THE BOOM. FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEN A FIGHTER JET IN THE AREA, AND IT FLEW OVER EXACTLY A WEEK BEFORE WHERE I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED A UFO SIGHTING. I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS ALL OVER THE NEWS, BECAUSE OF SAN DIEGO, AND ON ESPN WHEN THEY SHOWED THE ANNOUNCER SINGING THE PART OF "AND THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR" THEN THE BOOM IN SOME OTHER CITY, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED EVERYWHERE. CRAZY S@## I live in Clarkston, WA! On April 4th, around 1-2 I thought a plane was crashing into my house, I live by the airport, ran outside so I WOULD NOT GET KILLED and at that moment a boom echoed throughout the valley, THUNDEROUS, I MEAN THUNDEROUS. After that I went back inside, and back to normalcy. AFTER A MINUTE OF SILENCE I START TO HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. AN F-16 FIGHTER JET FLYS BY LOW, YOU CAN SEE THE PILOT AND A MISSLE, OH AND THE NOISE CREATED BY THE JET WAS WEAK IN COMPARISON, EVEN WHEN THE F -16 FLEW LOW OVER THE WATER, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE THE BOOM. FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEN A FIGHTER JET IN THE AREA, AND IT FLEW OVER EXACTLY A WEEK BEFORE WHERE I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED A UFO SIGHTING. I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS ALL OVER THE NEWS, BECAUSE OF SAN DIEGO, AND ON ESPN WHEN THEY SHOWED THE ANNOUNCER SINGING THE PART OF “AND THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR” THEN THE BOOM IN SOME OTHER CITY, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED EVERYWHERE. CRAZY S@##

]]> By: Seth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14494 Seth Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:05:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14494 I am from Mississippi Hattiesburg area and I am reporting a sonic boom . No known planes in area or news reports of any explosion. The time is 5:55pm I am from Mississippi Hattiesburg area and I am reporting a sonic boom . No known planes in area or news reports of any explosion. The time is 5:55pm

]]> By: D. Andrew White M.Sc. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14493 D. Andrew White M.Sc. Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:29:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14493 Perhaps the best commentary on UFOs would be a summary of the first official “flying saucers” reports. Kenneth Arnold’s Sighting: On Tuesday June 24, 1947, a private pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying toward Yakima Washington State. He saw his famous nine saucers, low in the sky to the east at about 3:00 pm PST. According to Arnold, it might actually have been 3:00 pm MST! Mount Adams Sighting: On Tuesday June 24, 1947, at about 15:00h a prospector named Fred Johnson was on Mount Adams Washington. The objects were travelling south-east. Mineral: Near Mineral Washington a Sidney B. Gallagher claimed to have seen nine shiny flashy ‘discs’ travelling south - from the ‘northerly’ direction. Again, on June 24, 1947, at about 3:00 pm. Diamond Gap Washington: Just south of Mt. Rainer a forest ranger Robert W. Hubach reportedly saw ‘high up’ flashing objects travelling very fast far to the east, on June 24, 1947. Richland Washington; Portland, Oregon, Journal, 4 July 1947: In Richland Washington a Mr. Leo Bernier reported several silvery discs heading west-southwest. The time was around “2:00 or 2:30” pm on June 24, 1947. Yakima Washington; The Oregonian – June 28, 1947: In Yakima Washington a Mrs. Ethel Wheelhouse reported a string of moving objects on Tuesday afternoon on June 24, 1947. Boise; Oklahoma Norman Transcript – July 4, 1947: Lt. Gov. Donald S. Whitehead near the court house, in Boise Idaho, saw a comet-like object at 3:30 pm MST. This was on June 24, 1947. Possibly the object was a vapour or smoke trail. Get out a good map of the USA, and plot these seven sightings. With some allowance for poor recollections of the time, these sightings line up on a map!This suggests that a daylight meteor was the cause of all seven. Perhaps the best commentary on UFOs would be a summary of the first official “flying saucers” reports.

Kenneth Arnold’s Sighting: On Tuesday June 24, 1947, a private pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying toward Yakima Washington State. He saw his famous nine saucers, low in the sky to the east at about 3:00 pm PST. According to Arnold, it might actually have been 3:00 pm MST!

Mount Adams Sighting: On Tuesday June 24, 1947, at about 15:00h a prospector named Fred Johnson was on Mount Adams Washington. The objects were travelling south-east.

Mineral: Near Mineral Washington a Sidney B. Gallagher claimed to have seen nine shiny flashy ‘discs’ travelling south – from the ‘northerly’ direction. Again, on June 24, 1947, at about 3:00 pm.

Diamond Gap Washington: Just south of Mt. Rainer a forest ranger Robert W. Hubach reportedly saw ‘high up’ flashing objects travelling very fast far to the east, on June 24, 1947.

Richland Washington; Portland, Oregon, Journal, 4 July 1947: In Richland Washington a Mr. Leo Bernier reported several silvery discs heading west-southwest. The time was around “2:00 or 2:30” pm on June 24, 1947.

Yakima Washington; The Oregonian – June 28, 1947: In Yakima Washington a Mrs. Ethel Wheelhouse reported a string of moving objects on Tuesday afternoon on June 24, 1947.

Boise; Oklahoma Norman Transcript – July 4, 1947: Lt. Gov. Donald S. Whitehead near the court house, in Boise Idaho, saw a comet-like object at 3:30 pm MST. This was on June 24, 1947. Possibly the object was a vapour or smoke trail.

Get out a good map of the USA, and plot these seven sightings. With some allowance for poor recollections of the time, these sightings line up on a map!This suggests that a daylight meteor was the cause of all seven.

]]> By: D. Andrew White M.Sc. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14492 D. Andrew White M.Sc. Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:23:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14492 Newspaper accounts of bolides cannot be trusted. So not much useful information can come out of them. In fact, this problem predates the 'Press' per se. May be someone did see the fireball In August of 1783 bolide was seen sailing over Windsor Castle. It was described as having stopped, then started again. Two centuries later it was even listed as a UFO. Paul Devereux quoted this event as an example of an 'earthlight' in 1989. The real event did not happen as the UFOlogist claimed - based on readinga single report. Other reports were made, and written down, in France and England. These other reports show that the fireball had an ordinary linear trajectory. The 'stopping and starting' must have been illusions, or at best little fragments that 'stopped' as they exploded. UFOlogists, as per usual did not do their homework and cross-reference the Windsor report with other reports. Newspaper accounts of bolides cannot be trusted. So not much useful information can come out of them. In fact, this problem predates the ‘Press’ per se. May be someone did see the fireball

In August of 1783 bolide was seen sailing over Windsor Castle. It was described as having stopped, then started again. Two centuries later it was even listed as a UFO. Paul Devereux quoted this event as an example of an ‘earthlight’ in 1989. The real event did not happen as the UFOlogist claimed – based on readinga single report. Other reports were made, and written down, in France and England. These other reports show that the fireball had an ordinary linear trajectory. The ‘stopping and starting’ must have been illusions, or at best little fragments that ‘stopped’ as they exploded. UFOlogists, as per usual did not do their homework and cross-reference the Windsor report with other reports.

]]> By: chrisb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14489 chrisb Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:18:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14489 I heard a sonic boom just today (10/29/06) in Orange County...It was really close...I just got on google to see if anyone else reported it and found nothing exept this website...Some people say it was an earthquake but I doubt that...Earthquakes have a low rumble sound...this had a doppler effect to it..I looked up in the sky and saw absolutley nothing in a clear blue sky...weird.. anyways..thought you should know I heard a sonic boom just today (10/29/06) in Orange County…It was really close…I just got on google to see if anyone else reported it and found nothing exept this website…Some people say it was an earthquake but I doubt that…Earthquakes have a low rumble sound…this had a doppler effect to it..I looked up in the sky and saw absolutley nothing in a clear blue sky…weird..

anyways..thought you should know

]]> By: Phil Denton http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14491 Phil Denton Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:37:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14491 Hmmm. If a large noise was created diametrically opposite this location on the earth then physics suggests that the sound will radiate out in all directions and meet exactly where this noise was created. Problem is the sound waves would A) be attenuated to a level which probably would not travel that far and B) due to variations in pressure, temperature, and other environmetal charateristics they would probably not all meet at the same time anyway. Oh sorry wrong forum... Hmmm.

If a large noise was created diametrically opposite this location on the earth then physics suggests that the sound will radiate out in all directions and meet exactly where this noise was created. Problem is the sound waves would A) be attenuated to a level which probably would not travel that far and B) due to variations in pressure, temperature, and other environmetal charateristics they would probably not all meet at the same time anyway. Oh sorry wrong forum…

]]> By: den http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14490 den Sun, 16 Jul 2006 02:07:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14490 July 15 from the start of 9:31pm till right this second at 10:00 there are sonic booms going over my home in upstate NY about 15miles from binghamton sounds like a fighter jet is passing over head for a brief second. they are going off about 5 every 15 seconds or so... almost sounds like fire works but they are much thicker sounding almost like if there are bombs being droped 10-15 miles away.. almost feels like a rumble of sound going over my house.. there is not 1 storm in NY no clouds crystal clear night... I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE SOUNDS ARE GOING OVER MY HOUSE big boom sounding things the only thing that I can think of to describe it in my head is "sonicboom" from a fighter jet July 15 from the start of 9:31pm till right this second at 10:00 there are sonic booms going over my home in upstate NY about 15miles from binghamton sounds like a fighter jet is passing over head for a brief second. they are going off about 5 every 15 seconds or so… almost sounds like fire works but they are much thicker sounding almost like if there are bombs being droped 10-15 miles away.. almost feels like a rumble of sound going over my house.. there is not 1 storm in NY no clouds crystal clear night… I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE SOUNDS ARE GOING OVER MY HOUSE big boom sounding things the only thing that I can think of to describe it in my head is “sonicboom” from a fighter jet

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14488 Tom Fri, 05 May 2006 21:24:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14488 The location that the sound wave originated was determined to be at warning area 291, which is a location for military exercises set up by North Island Naval Air Station San Diego. Most likly was a top secret test project. The location that the sound wave originated was determined to be at warning area 291, which is a location for military exercises set up by North Island Naval Air Station San Diego. Most likly was a top secret test project.

]]> By: eric http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14446 eric Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:29:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14446 exploding comets... that guy that said a comet would hit earth... I BET HE WAS RIGHT. comets explode before they hit and the explosion disintegrates them. exploding comets… that guy that said a comet would hit earth… I BET HE WAS RIGHT. comets explode before they hit and the explosion disintegrates them.

]]> By: Allen Thomson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14458 Allen Thomson Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:09:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14458 P.P.P.S.: I just remembered that the 1978 MITRE report mentioned above was associated with a JASON sonic boom study of the same year: http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/jason/sonic.pdf P.P.P.S.:

I just remembered that the 1978 MITRE report mentioned above was associated with a JASON sonic boom study of the same year:

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/jason/sonic.pdf

]]> By: Don http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14487 Don Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:01:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14487 A little more news. San Diego Union Tribune today says scientists at Scripps Institute have identified a location off the coast where a "sound wave" originated and travelled across San Diego into the desert: <blockquote>"According to data analyzed by the scientists, the wave was felt on San Nicolas Island, northwest of San Clemente Island, at 8:40 a.m. It hit Solana Beach at 8:46 a.m., the western edge of the Cleveland National Forest at 8:47.30 and the eastern side of the Salton Sea at 8:53 a.m. From there, it appears to have dissipated. Elizabeth Cochran, the lead researcher on the project, said the wave moved at 320 meters per second, roughly the speed that sound travels through the air. Its velocity was too slow to be that of an earthquake, she said.</blockquote> The spot identified is some 120 miles out in the Pacific, within the boundaries of the military "warning area" noted by Prowler67: <blockquote>I know that there is a military training zone just off the coast of San Diego that is off limits to civilian aircraft....</blockquote> A little more news.

San Diego Union Tribune today says scientists at Scripps Institute have identified a location off the coast where a “sound wave” originated and travelled across San Diego into the desert:

“According to data analyzed by the scientists, the wave was felt on San Nicolas Island, northwest of San Clemente Island, at 8:40 a.m. It hit Solana Beach at 8:46 a.m., the western edge of the Cleveland National Forest at 8:47.30 and the eastern side of the Salton Sea at 8:53 a.m. From there, it appears to have dissipated.

Elizabeth Cochran, the lead researcher on the project, said the wave moved at 320 meters per second, roughly the speed that sound travels through the air. Its velocity was too slow to be that of an earthquake, she said.

The spot identified is some 120 miles out in the Pacific, within the boundaries of the military “warning area” noted by Prowler67:

I know that there is a military training zone just off the coast of San Diego that is off limits to civilian aircraft….

]]> By: Don http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14486 Don Thu, 27 Apr 2006 00:28:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14486 <blockquote cite="swordfish">"Anyway, I don’t think it was thunder now because someone probably would have been able to explain that before that article was printed, and it also seems like the sound was spread out over a very large distance. It talks about the sound in different places and I don’t know how far apart they are, but the article makes it seem like quite some distance."</blockquote> Yes it appears to have been felt over most of the northern half of San Diego County, which is quite large. Three points, Vista, Lakeside, and Mission Beach, create a triangle roughly 40mi by 20mi by 44mi. That's about 400 square miles. And it was stronger than just a few rattling windows. I never actually heard a boom but the whole house shook, including some interior walls and doors. One more thing. The papers say it was "about 9 a.m." I checked the time of my blogpost which I wrote just a few minutes after the "quake", and it shows as 8:49 a.m., so the "quake" was about 8:45.

“Anyway, I don’t think it was thunder now because someone probably would have been able to explain that before that article was printed, and it also seems like the sound was spread out over a very large distance. It talks about the sound in different places and I don’t know how far apart they are, but the article makes it seem like quite some distance.”

Yes it appears to have been felt over most of the northern half of San Diego County, which is quite large. Three points, Vista, Lakeside, and Mission Beach, create a triangle roughly 40mi by 20mi by 44mi. That’s about 400 square miles.

And it was stronger than just a few rattling windows. I never actually heard a boom but the whole house shook, including some interior walls and doors.

One more thing. The papers say it was “about 9 a.m.”

I checked the time of my blogpost which I wrote just a few minutes after the “quake”, and it shows as 8:49 a.m., so the “quake” was about 8:45.

]]> By: Allen Thomson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14485 Allen Thomson Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:42:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14485 Oh, and P.P.S: Compare the present > There are reports of a loud blast coming from the sky in San Diego, around 9:00 a.m. on April 4. They’re described as being like sonic booms, but there were no meteors reported, no explosions from a nearby marine base, no airplanes seen. What could have caused them? with http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora.htm , wherein is found, >> Probably the most compelling evidence for such [Aurora-esque] flight tests are the series of unusual sonic booms chronicled above Southern California, beginning in mid to late 1991. On at least five occasions, these sonic booms were recorded by at least 25 of the 220 US Geological Survey sensors across Southern California used to pinpoint earthquake epicenters. >> The incidents were recorded in June, October, November, and late January 1991. Seismologists estimate that the aircraft were flying at speeds between Mach 3 and 4 and at altitudes of 8 to 10 kilometers. The aircraft's flight path was in a North North-East direction, consistent with flight paths to secret test ranges in Nevada. Seismologists say that the sonic booms were characteristic of a smaller vehicle than the 37 meter long shuttle orbiter. >> Furthermore, neither the shuttle nor NASA's single SR-71B were operating on the days the booms were registered. >> One of the seismologists, Jim Mori, noted: "We can't tell anything about the vehicle. They seem stronger than other sonic booms that we record once in a while. They've all come on Thursday mornings about the same time, between 6 and 7 in the morning." >> These "skyquake" are a continuing phenomenon, with the most recent report over Orange County, CA coming on 20 July 1996. It is reported that the "quake" occurred around 3pm PST, fitting the "skyquake" pattern in the following respects: + It occurred in a coastal area. + Described as similar to an earthquake in some respects (rattling of loose objects, etc) but also like a boom (but no distinct double bang as far as is known). + Severe enough to light up government and media switchboards, but no known damage. + Not an earthquake (CalTech sensors saw nothing) + Local military bases deny any knowledge. + No known other source (eg explosion) Oh, and

P.P.S:

Compare the present

> There are reports of a loud blast coming from the sky in San Diego, around 9:00 a.m. on April 4. They’re described as being like sonic booms, but there were no meteors reported, no explosions from a nearby marine base, no airplanes seen. What could have caused them?

with http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora.htm , wherein is found,

>> Probably the most compelling evidence for such [Aurora-esque] flight tests are the series of unusual sonic booms chronicled above Southern California, beginning in mid to late 1991. On at least five occasions, these sonic booms were recorded by at least 25 of the 220 US Geological Survey sensors across Southern California used to pinpoint earthquake epicenters.

>> The incidents were recorded in June, October, November, and late January 1991. Seismologists estimate that the aircraft were flying at speeds between Mach 3 and 4 and at altitudes of 8 to 10 kilometers. The aircraft’s flight path was in a North North-East direction, consistent with flight paths to secret test ranges in Nevada. Seismologists say that the sonic booms were characteristic of a smaller vehicle than the 37 meter long shuttle orbiter.

>> Furthermore, neither the shuttle nor NASA’s single SR-71B were operating on the days the booms were registered.

>> One of the seismologists, Jim Mori, noted:

“We can’t tell anything about the vehicle. They seem stronger than other sonic booms that we record once in a while. They’ve all come on Thursday mornings about the same time, between 6 and 7 in the morning.”

>> These “skyquake” are a continuing phenomenon, with the most recent report over Orange County, CA coming on 20 July 1996. It is reported that the “quake” occurred around 3pm PST, fitting the “skyquake” pattern in the following respects:

+ It occurred in a coastal area.

+ Described as similar to an earthquake in some respects (rattling of loose objects, etc) but also like a boom (but no distinct double bang as far as is known).

+ Severe enough to light up government and media switchboards, but no known damage.

+ Not an earthquake (CalTech sensors saw nothing)

+ Local military bases deny any knowledge.

+ No known other source (eg explosion)

]]> By: dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14484 dave Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:46:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14484 I live in San Diego and have not heard the booms myself. But if they exist I'm inclined to believe they are the sound of a Federation-era spaceship entering our atmosphere on some kind of time travel mission to save the galaxy. http://talesoftheheliosphere.blogspot.com/2006/04/captain-kirk-is-that-you.html Love your site, by the way. Keep up the good work! I live in San Diego and have not heard the booms myself. But if they exist I’m inclined to believe they are the sound of a Federation-era spaceship entering our atmosphere on some kind of time travel mission to save the galaxy.

http://talesoftheheliosphere.blogspot.com/2006/04/captain-kirk-is-that-you.html

Love your site, by the way. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: prowler67 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14483 prowler67 Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:20:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14483 Oh, just a thought. A 155mm cannon makes a sound just like thunder and can be heard for some distance. Artillery fire is generally not reported to the FAA as artillery ranges are a no fly area. But the "thunder" can sound like it is comming from either the ground or the sky, depending on the situation. Just throwing that idea out there. Oh, just a thought. A 155mm cannon makes a sound just like thunder and can be heard for some distance. Artillery fire is generally not reported to the FAA as artillery ranges are a no fly area. But the “thunder” can sound like it is comming from either the ground or the sky, depending on the situation. Just throwing that idea out there.

]]> By: Allen Thomson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14482 Allen Thomson Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:00:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14482 P.S.: the National UFO Reporting Center's site (www.nuforc.org) is kind of interesting from a psychology-of-perception point of view. It has logs of sightings that people send in on a volunteer basis -- most are "I saw something funny" singletons of which little can be made, but sometimes a source event can be identified. The NOSS satellite triads and bolides are particularly useful, because then you pretty well know what the people were seeing. Comparing that with what they report can be quite interesting. Multiple, independent reports of a single, identifiable event are best but happen infrequently. P.S.: the National UFO Reporting Center’s site (www.nuforc.org) is kind of interesting from a psychology-of-perception point of view.

It has logs of sightings that people send in on a volunteer basis — most are “I saw something funny” singletons of which little can be made, but sometimes a source event can be identified. The NOSS satellite triads and bolides are particularly useful, because then you pretty well know what the people were seeing. Comparing that with what they report can be quite interesting. Multiple, independent reports of a single, identifiable event are best but happen infrequently.

]]> By: Allen Thomson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14481 Allen Thomson Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:44:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14481 If it was a meteor/bolide, US missile warning satellites should have detected it. (If they didn't, I want a tax refund.) It used to be that reports of such detections were sometimes made public (http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aftac/news/), but apparently not since 911. BTW, mystery booms go back a long, long way. The 1977 MITRE book by Claflin-Chalton and MacDonald, "Sound and Light Phenomena: a Study of Historical and Modern Occurrences" is probably the best single reference for such things. If it was a meteor/bolide, US missile warning satellites should have detected it. (If they didn’t, I want a tax refund.) It used to be that reports of such detections were sometimes made public (http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aftac/news/), but apparently not since 911.

BTW, mystery booms go back a long, long way. The 1977 MITRE book by Claflin-Chalton and MacDonald, “Sound and Light Phenomena: a Study of Historical and Modern Occurrences” is probably the best single reference for such things.

]]> By: Chris http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14480 Chris Wed, 26 Apr 2006 11:40:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14480 IIRC, a 'meteorite' goes through 3 names depending on it's location: 1. meteoroid: in space, happily floating along :) 2. meteor: in Earth's atmosphere, burning mad :p 3. meteorite: the left over piece on the ground :) IIRC, a ‘meteorite’ goes through 3 names depending on it’s location:
1. meteoroid: in space, happily floating along :)
2. meteor: in Earth’s atmosphere, burning mad :p
3. meteorite: the left over piece on the ground :)

]]> By: P. Edward Murray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14479 P. Edward Murray Wed, 26 Apr 2006 05:57:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14479 "Meteorites" are thought to be leftovers of Asteroids and many have had their orbits plotted. I seem to recall a recent study that found that some of these actually are leftovers of one of the major Asteroids. P.S. I never liked the term "Asteroid" because it really means small star. I rather like the term "Planetoid" for small planet and indeed asteroids are called "Minor Planets". “Meteorites” are thought to be leftovers of Asteroids
and many have had their orbits plotted. I seem to recall a recent study that found that some of these actually are leftovers of one of the major Asteroids.

P.S. I never liked the term “Asteroid” because it really means small star. I rather like the term “Planetoid” for small planet and indeed asteroids are called “Minor Planets”.

]]> By: P. Edward Murray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14478 P. Edward Murray Wed, 26 Apr 2006 05:54:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14478 Ian, A "Meteor" is the flash of light that you see and for the most part, most of these are the size of sand particles to pebbles and are thought to be the leftovers of a comet's tail. There may well be larger particles as well but I have never seen one documented. A "Meteorite" is a "Meteor" that has fallen to Earth. Most of the time these objects can even be called "Fireballs or Bolides" objects that are intensely bright and sometimes, in the case of "Bolides" split apart as they speed through the atmosphere. Kind of confusing though:) Ian,

A “Meteor” is the flash of light that you see and for the most part, most of these are the size of sand particles to pebbles and are thought to be the leftovers of a comet’s tail.

There may well be larger particles as well but I have never seen one documented.

A “Meteorite” is a “Meteor” that has fallen to Earth.
Most of the time these objects can even be called “Fireballs or Bolides” objects that are intensely bright and sometimes, in the case of “Bolides” split apart as they speed through the atmosphere.

Kind of confusing though:)

]]> By: P. Edward Murray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14477 P. Edward Murray Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:13:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14477 Swordfish, I'm inclined to agree that they are either supersecret aircraft being tested, some type of new dirigible or hoax or amateur balloon. Swordfish,

I’m inclined to agree that they are either supersecret aircraft being tested, some type of new dirigible or hoax or amateur balloon.

]]> By: Ian B Gibson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14476 Ian B Gibson Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:23:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14476 Could I get a clarification from someone in the know? I was always taught that a meteor was a particle left behind by a comet, typically a fraction of a millimetre in diameter, whereas a meteorite was a much larger, piece of rock/metal, perhaps related to an asteroid. If this is true, wouldn't that mean that a <i>meteor</i> could not make any noise, whereas a <i>meteorite</i> could? Could I get a clarification from someone in the know? I was always taught that a meteor was a particle left behind by a comet, typically a fraction of a millimetre in diameter, whereas a meteorite was a much larger, piece of rock/metal, perhaps related to an asteroid.

If this is true, wouldn’t that mean that a meteor could not make any noise, whereas a meteorite could?

]]> By: Kaptain K http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14475 Kaptain K Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:20:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14475 Back in the late 50s, when we were visiting my gradfolks in Little Rock Ark. There were loud noises in the sky. One caller, when told they were sonic booms, said "Damn them Masons!" LOL Back in the late 50s, when we were visiting my gradfolks in Little Rock Ark. There were loud noises in the sky. One caller, when told they were sonic booms, said “Damn them Masons!” LOL

]]> By: Swordfish http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/comment-page-1/#comment-14474 Swordfish Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:17:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/04/24/the-thunder-of-ufos/#comment-14474 This is my first post here. I've been coming to this website for a good few years now and I've been kind of afraid to post since it seems everyone here is way out of my league when it comes to things like this. That being said, I just couldn't help myself after reading that quote that showed Peter Davenport's apparent lack of familiarity with thunder. I'm currently studying Meteorology (albeit just in my second year) and I almost fell out of my chair when, in the quote, he seemed to imply that lightning was silent. When I read that article, the first thing I thought of was that it simply could have been thunder. After all, the news article said that it was raining and I have seen thunder do some of the things that people described. At this point I couldn't resist the urge to joke to myself about how people in Southern California may not even know what a thunderstorm is (I know, harsh generalization, but I couldn't resist). Anyway, I don't think it was thunder now because someone probably would have been able to explain that before that article was printed, and it also seems like the sound was spread out over a very large distance. It talks about the sound in different places and I don't know how far apart they are, but the article makes it seem like quite some distance. I personally think that it's just a military aircraft that no branch is owning up to. At the risk of sounding like a conspiricy nutball, I noted that one airbase that the newspaper did not contact was Edwards Air Force Base which, in terms of military aircraft, isn't too far from San Diego. Now I highly doubt there are any alien spaceships there or anything of the sort, but they do a fair bit of testing at that base, and I don't think it's too far fetched to assume that there's something there that we won't know about for a couple of years. (P.S. Sorry if my name is already taken, it's the only thing I could think of) This is my first post here. I’ve been coming to this website for a good few years now and I’ve been kind of afraid to post since it seems everyone here is way out of my league when it comes to things like this.

That being said, I just couldn’t help myself after reading that quote that showed Peter Davenport’s apparent lack of familiarity with thunder. I’m currently studying Meteorology (albeit just in my second year) and I almost fell out of my chair when, in the quote, he seemed to imply that lightning was silent.

When I read that article, the first thing I thought of was that it simply could have been thunder. After all, the news article said that it was raining and I have seen thunder do some of the things that people described. At this point I couldn’t resist the urge to joke to myself about how people in Southern California may not even know what a thunderstorm is (I know, harsh generalization, but I couldn’t resist).

Anyway, I don’t think it was thunder now because someone probably would have been able to explain that before that article was printed, and it also seems like the sound was spread out over a very large distance. It talks about the sound in different places and I don’t know how far apart they are, but the article makes it seem like quite some distance.

I personally think that it’s just a military aircraft that no branch is owning up to. At the risk of sounding like a conspiricy nutball, I noted that one airbase that the newspaper did not contact was Edwards Air Force Base which, in terms of military aircraft, isn’t too far from San Diego. Now I highly doubt there are any alien spaceships there or anything of the sort, but they do a fair bit of testing at that base, and I don’t think it’s too far fetched to assume that there’s something there that we won’t know about for a couple of years.

(P.S. Sorry if my name is already taken, it’s the only thing I could think of)

]]>