Identified Sightings

Many UFO sighting reports and photographs have logical explanations. Numerous objects, aerial phenomena, and space or weather aspects can be mistaken as UFO's and upon investigation, have an earthly explanation.

A few examples are: kites, microlites, helicopters or planes, meteors, Venus, lenticular clouds, 'blimps', lens flares, bugs/beetles/birds, distant elevated structures, spotlights.

Listed below are some of the reports we have received that have been 'identified'. We wish to thank the observers for lodging the reports. Keep watching the sky!

Date:  Saturday 25 November 2006
Time:  1.40-2.30 pm
Place:  Orewa Beach, North Auckland, North Island. 
 
Description:  The weather was sunny, with some clouds. The witnesses (2) were on the 10th floor of an apartment building.  They observed an object traveling from east to west at a slow ‘gliding’ speed quite some distance out over the ocean.  At first they thought it was either a kite or a hang glider. It traveled slowly towards land, up and along a ridgeline north of them.  Through the viewfinder of the camera, they could not see any tether line.  Because of the considerable distance it traveled from out at sea, they decided it could not be a kite or hang glider, and they could not see a person suspended from it.  It was v or boomerang shaped, and glowed red.  It appeared to be a powered object, ascending and descending, and appearing to hover for periods.  Something could be seen trailing off its left edge.
The object was lost from view behind trees at the northern end of Orewa, at which point it appeared to be glowing intensely red.  The flight was captured on mini-DV video tape (approx 25-30 mins).  Friends who viewed the footage agreed it was a strange object.
Before contacting UFOCUS NZ, the witnesses searched the internet for flying objects of similar appearance, but found nothing.

Findings:  Photos of the object, and a flight path map made by the observers were examined by UFOCUS NZ.  The object was clearly a large red fishing kite attached to a clear fishing line.  Photo 1 shows the kite approaching over the sea.  Photo 2 shows a classic fishing kite profile.

Classification:  SKEPTIC SOCIETY HOAX!
Date:  Monday 25 September, 2006
Time:  7.30 pm
Place:  A park or backyard somewhere in Mangere, Sth Auckland

Description:
UFOCUS NZ received a sighting report concerning a lighted disc with green light in the centre, which had been sighted by many people in the area, including 20 members of a local art group.  Reports were made to Radio Live on both the Marcus Lush programme Monday evening, and the Michael Laws programme Tuesday morning.

UFOCUS NZ was contacted by an Auckland radio station and invited to comment on the sighting.  The announcer also had on line a person claiming to be an enthusiastic witness of the event.  The announcer was keen to have UFOCUS NZ state categorically that the lighted object was a craft, however we are much more professional and thorough than that, and we stated that no such claims could be made, and that we would have to interview witnesses, check out astronomical features, consult ATC etc, before we could make any statement.  At this point, the enthusiastic ‘witness’ professed to be a member of the Skeptic Society, who was actually impressed by our logical and scientific approach to investigations.  In fact he reprimanded the radio announcer for having tried to push us into a rash analysis!

We soon discovered that this ‘sighting’ was a prank set up by members of the Skeptic Society to ‘test’ the credibility or gullibility of UFO sighting investigators, as a prelude to their annual conference the following weekend.   As a result, members of the Skeptic Society and Sue Hansen from UFOCUS NZ were interviewed on ‘Campbell Live’ TV3.  We extend our thanks to the Skeptic Society for having helped to raise our profile in this field!
To read an excellent article by US physicist and optical data analyst Dr Bruce Maccabee, CLICK HERE: ‘Prosaic Explanations: The Failure of UFO Skepticism’.

Date:  24 June 2006
Time:  Approx. 10.35pm – 10.50pm
Place:  Manurewa, Auckland

Description:  The sighting lasted approx. 15 minutes with 3 observers, viewed from an easterly direction, looking NW to Manurewa/Mangare.  A very clear night with minimal clouds.  For approx. 8 mins, the brightly lit object appeared to be stationary.  It then briefly moved about continuously before slowly moving off in a southerly direction.  It appeared about the size of a small plane, with flashing colours.  Most of the light was projected from the front of the object.  Footage & photos provided from digital camera.

UFOCUS NZ contacted ATC; none of the Auckland ATCs recorded either a visual or radar anomaly.  The footage was viewed by UFOCUS NZ, and Hamilton & Auckland ATC & identified as a helicopter.  The time, position, & direction of the sighting all corresponded with the movements of a police helicopter using spotlights, working over Manurewa, Cornwallis, & south of the city.

Date: 19 and 20 May 2006
Time: between 8.30pm and 9.00pm on both days
Place: Hamilton

Description: On, and following these two evenings, a number of people contacted the Waikato Times, the police, the Hamilton Astronomical Society, and the local 'News Talk ZB' radio station to report a UAP (unusual aerial phenomenon) taking place.

They reported sighting mysterious white luminous circles 'dancing' in the sky above the city of Hamilton, and the townships of Cambridge and Te Awamutu. The glowing circles seemed to appear, move, disappear and reappear.

Meanwhile, the staff in the control tower at Hamilton airport were able to observe this spectacular phenomenon at close proximity. They were also able to inform the groups above that the phenomenon was caused by two powerful spotlights (searchlights) that were being trialled at the nearby Mystery Creek Field Days site, in preparation for their use at the Cambridge High School ball to be held there on Saturday.

According to our member, Air Traffic Controller Graeme Opie, depending on where the observer was positioned, and the angle of sight, the spotlights reflecting off the 3000ft cloud base would give the appearance of the circles being in different locations over the 3 towns. When the spotlights were turned on and off, the mysterious glowing 'discs' seemed to disappear and reappear elsewhere, similar to many reports of the often erratic movements of UFOs.