Although not directly related to the project, I have added under the “About us” / Publications a paper that I wrote last January for the European Space Policy Institute. It is called “UFOs and Exogenous Intelligence Encounters”.
Readers interested with the “Extraterrestrial hypothesis” (The hypothesis that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are best explained as being extraterrestrial life or non-human aliens from other planets occupying physical spacecraft visiting Earth…Ref Wikipedia) will find some food for thought.

Any comment is obviously welcome !

Abstract:

The search for extraterrestrial life has fascinated scientists and the public alike for over half a century. In recent years, astronomers and planetary scientists have multiplied their efforts to discover life forms by probing planets suitable for supporting its development with telescopes and robotic exploration missions. Although the probability of discovering micro-organisms on other planets is increasing, the prospect of making contact with developed, intelligent extraterrestrial beings remains distant. However, such an event can not be excluded; it may happen unexpectedly and under as yet unforeseen circumstances, but it remains in the realm of possibility. In fact, recent opinion polls have shown that a large part of the public considers such an event as very probable, or that it has even taken place already. Although the popularised perception of such “close encounters of the third kind” in the form of UFO sightings is scientifically unfounded, it helps to build public support for space exploration missions, advance scientific knowledge on atmospheric phenomena and psychologically prepare the public for encountering extraterrestrial life. Furthermore, one should not necessarily assume that such a contact would be initiated by humans, or that we would be able to realise and comprehend it based on our own experience and intellect. After all, it would be the greatest discovery in the history of mankind” 

Further to the Norway spiral’s event from 2009 (see previous blog entry), a new fascinating footage related to a weird atmospheric flare has circulated on the web. This video originates from the astronomical observatory on the summit of Mauna Kea, in Hawaii, and has been filmed on the 22th of June 2011.

Mr Ichi Tanaka, a Support Astronomer of Subuaru Telescope (Hawaii) posted the video on the Starship Asterisk’s website (APOD and General Astronomy Discussion Forum), requesting the APOD readers to help clarifying the nature of this event (See forum entry at: http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=24251&hilit=atmospheric+flare). “In the early morning of 22 March we, Subaru Telescope observers on the summit of Mauna Kea, noticed that there is a huge halo of light above the eastern horizon. It was slowly expanding to over 45 degrees in 5 minutes or more.  The event was captured by the Subaru Catwalk Night Camera and also by CHFT’s NNW webcam….”

Similarly than in Norway, it seems that the most likely cause of that event is a Minuteman III missile launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base (Claifornia). The footage can be seen at: http://vimeo.com/25743686

Phil Plait in his Disovery’ Bad Astronomy blog provides his theory of the event: “…a missile launches from California, and three minutes or so later the third stage releases an explosive charge which blows fuel out into space. This fuel expands in a shell, fades as it gets bigger, and appears to move across the sky as it does so. And there’s the other idea that this might be from a shock wave from the missile itself, which I cannot rule out…”

Regardless of the final explanation of this mysterious event, it must now be clear that professional amateurs won’t hesitate to share with their colleagues any  “unidentified sighting”. It is obvious to me that in this context no cover-up could take place !