Illustration by Raphael Terra by Roger Marsh
Could those pesky aliens have discovered better beaches on another planet? Maybe there was a galaxy-wide UFO recall and everyone’s in the shop getting upgraded flux capacitors.
Domestic UFO reports for the first quarter 2017 are down a staggering 32 percent as compared to the previous five years, according to Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) Director of Research Robert Powell.
The MUFON witness database at mid-day March 31, 2017, is showing 992 UFO reports where the case occurred during January, February or March. During the five-year period 2012 through 2016 within the same three months, MUFON averaged receiving about 1,460 cases – showing a 32 percent dip in UFO reports.
Could those pesky aliens have discovered better beaches on another planet? Maybe there was a galaxy-wide UFO recall and everyone’s in the shop getting upgraded flux capacitors.
Domestic UFO reports for the first quarter 2017 are down a staggering 32 percent as compared to the previous five years, according to Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) Director of Research Robert Powell.
The MUFON witness database at mid-day March 31, 2017, is showing 992 UFO reports where the case occurred during January, February or March. During the five-year period 2012 through 2016 within the same three months, MUFON averaged receiving about 1,460 cases – showing a 32 percent dip in UFO reports.
“We have no current explanation on why the drop in UFO reports,” Powell said Friday afternoon. “One can speculate that people are seeing fewer UFOs or that they are just not reporting them.”
Powell pointed out the fact that mobile devices like tablets and smartphones recently overtook computers near the end of 2016.
"James Titcomb reporting for the Telegraph," Powell said, "reports that our mobile devices finally tipped the scale as far as how people are viewing and engaging with websites. The way people are viewing our UFO reporting document is now very challenging and must be upgraded to keep up with technology."
National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) Director Peter Davenport confirmed today that his witness database is experiencing the same drop.
"NUFORC averaged about 1,402 cases during the first quarters 2012 through 2016," Davenport said. "The first quarter 2017 is showing just 954 cases – about a 32 percent drop as well."
The two UFO databases often follow the same patterns.
“Peter and I have traded stats over the years,” reports MUFON Communications Director Roger Marsh. “If he calls and says he’s having a surge in reports in general, or with one particular shape, that wave is always mirrored in the MUFON database. While some people report into both databases, most reports are actually unique to the database. We’ve seen dips and highs in the past, and they usually run in two to three-month cycles.”
No one is ever quite sure why the rise and fall in UFO reports.
“There is a direct correlation between UFO television programming and UFO reporting,” MUFON Executive Director Jan C. Harzan said. “The shows apparently make people aware that they have a place to file a report. When one of our “Hangar 1” episodes is playing on the History channel – there is always an increase in reporting - although that surge does tend to be people recalling older cases.”
The top five reporting shapes in 2017 to date are Sphere (186), Star-like (106), Circle (100), Triangle (73) and Disc (64).
Powell pointed out the fact that mobile devices like tablets and smartphones recently overtook computers near the end of 2016.
"James Titcomb reporting for the Telegraph," Powell said, "reports that our mobile devices finally tipped the scale as far as how people are viewing and engaging with websites. The way people are viewing our UFO reporting document is now very challenging and must be upgraded to keep up with technology."
National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) Director Peter Davenport confirmed today that his witness database is experiencing the same drop.
"NUFORC averaged about 1,402 cases during the first quarters 2012 through 2016," Davenport said. "The first quarter 2017 is showing just 954 cases – about a 32 percent drop as well."
The two UFO databases often follow the same patterns.
“Peter and I have traded stats over the years,” reports MUFON Communications Director Roger Marsh. “If he calls and says he’s having a surge in reports in general, or with one particular shape, that wave is always mirrored in the MUFON database. While some people report into both databases, most reports are actually unique to the database. We’ve seen dips and highs in the past, and they usually run in two to three-month cycles.”
No one is ever quite sure why the rise and fall in UFO reports.
“There is a direct correlation between UFO television programming and UFO reporting,” MUFON Executive Director Jan C. Harzan said. “The shows apparently make people aware that they have a place to file a report. When one of our “Hangar 1” episodes is playing on the History channel – there is always an increase in reporting - although that surge does tend to be people recalling older cases.”
The top five reporting shapes in 2017 to date are Sphere (186), Star-like (106), Circle (100), Triangle (73) and Disc (64).
