The UFO Phenomenon

Although evidence for the UFO phenomenon seemingly stretches far back in history, the modern phenomenon began with a large number of sightings by the military during World War II. Termed "foo-fighters," these were followed in 1946 by reports from Sweden of "ghost rockets" and, in 1947, with reports from the USA of "flying discs" or "flying saucers." Since then, the phenomenon has been reported almost continually from all parts of the world, with sighting totals numbering well into the hundreds of thousands. While most have been identified as natural phenomena-stars, meteors, etc-or man-made devices such as airplanes and balloons, 5% to 10% of all reports are not so easily discounted, even after proper investigation by qualified individuals. These are the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)-the heart and soul of the mystery.

Can the terms "UFO" and UAP" be defined? Definitions are tricky when dealing with the complex UFO phenomenon. A definition must be both comprehensive so as to embrace the entirety of the reported phenomenon, as well as helpful by not implying predetermined conclusions, theories, or models. Hence, it will be seen that any definitions at this point in our understanding of the subject will be flawed, incomplete, and subject to change.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the U.S. Air Force's scientific consultant on UFOs at Project Bluebook for nearly the entirety of its history defined UFOs this way:
We can define the UFO simply as the reported perception of an object or light seen in the sky or upon the land the appearance, trajectory, and general dynamic and luminescent behavior of which do not suggest a logical, conventional explanation and which is not only mystifying to the original percipients but remains unidentified after close scrutiny of all available evidence by person who are technically capable of making a common sense identification, if one is possible.
(The UFO Experience, Henry Regenery, Chicago, 1972, p. 10)
The Fund for UFO Research simplifies Dr. Hynek's definition slightly, and perhaps you'll prefer it:
An Unidentified Flying Object is anything seen in the air or briefly on the ground that looks like an unfamiliar object and still cannot be identified after the report has been studied by scientifically qualified persons.

The press in 1947 labeled the objects "flying discs" and "flying saucers," based on eyewitness descriptions. By 1952, though, the U.S. Air Force had begun calling them Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), thus effectively rendering the earlier terms obsolete. The acronym UFO has been thoroughly integrated into the English language, with similar terms just as common in other languages. We've been using UFO for many years, though it is slowly being replaced by UAP in some quarters, as the latter term is not automatically equated with "alien spaceship."

A UFO or UAP is something an observer can't identify, due to its unusual appearance and/or its behavior. Normally it is reported to be moving through or hovering in the air, although a landed or stationary object, or one in some unusual location, is still reported as a UFO if it resembles its flying counterparts. At this preliminary stage, such reports are raw, untested UFOs or UAPs. If trained investigators analyze a case thoroughly, and it remains unidentified, then it we classify it as a genuine UFO or UAP.

We need make our basic definition no more complicated than that. One day we hope all will be clear, and we'll know what has been behind all the mystery. There will no longer be a "U" in either acronym.