Hynek Classification System

From TinWiki.org

The Hynek Classification System is a tool that ufologists use categorize the nature of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting. The system was developed by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Project Blue Book's former scientific advisor and founder of CUFOS, the Center for UFO Studies. It was one of the first efforts by a respected scientist to help bring the scientific method to UFO research. The Hynek system is used by ufologists worldwide, and has been popularized in mainstream culture, namely Stephen Spielberg's film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Contents 1 Distant Encounters 1.1 Nocturnal Lights 1.2 Daylight Discs 2 Radar/Visual 3 Close Encounters 3.1 Close Encounters of the First Kind 3.2 Close Encounters of the Second Kind 3.3 Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4 Added Categories 4.1 Close Encounter of the Fourth Kind 4.2 Close Encounter of the Fifth Kind 4.3 Overlaps in classification 5 External links 6 Related discussion

Distant Encounters

The first grouping of UFO encounter types describe unknown objects seen at a distance of greater than 500 feet, where it is difficult to make out details of the object in question.

Nocturnal Lights

This is by far the category with the most reports. Nocturnal lights are objects seen at night, as the name implies, and are usually described as glowing lights, fireballs, or lightened shapes. They are seen at great distances, usually at high altitude, and no details are gathered. This category also has the highest number of misidentifications, as satellites, planes, planets, stars, and other mundane things are often mistaken for UFOs. This category is usually the least interesting to ufologists, as they often turn out to be normal objects. However, some nocturnal lights that have been reported, such as the Green Fireballs of New Mexico, and the Phoenix Lights have resisted explaination.

Daylight Discs

As the name implies, a daylight disc is a UFO seen at a distance during the day. However, despite the name, the objects do not have to necessarily be disc shaped. Daylight discs have been reported in many shapes and sizes, and tend to show some details, although not as many as a close encounter would. Daylight discs are the category most commonly photographed, and there are several that have resisted explaination. Examples of daylight discs include the the Kenneth Arnold Sighting, the Trent Photos, the Montana Film, the Newhouse Film, and the Mexican sightings in 1991.

Radar/Visual

One of the two categories of most interest to researchers and scientists is the radar visual case. In this sighting, an object is tracked on radar and visually identified by people, usually ground personnel or pilots, to be in the exact location shown on radar. Radar visual cases make up a good bulk of some of the hardest to explain UFO cases. Examples of Radar/Visual cases are the Washington National Sightings, the Bentwaters-Lakenheath case, the [[JAL sighting], and the Kinross Case.

Close Encounters

Close encounters are UFO sightings where the UFO is less than 500 feet away, and details of the object and/or occupants can be made.

Close Encounters of the First Kind

In a close encounter of the first kind, the UFO appears to be less than 500 feet away from the witness, and features of the object can be made out such as lights, windows, markings, doors, etc. However, the UFO has no effect on the surrounding environment, and leaves no quantifiable traces of its presence. An example of a close encounter of the first kind is the Exeter case in New Hampshire, where several ground witnesses spotted a red glowing object near to the ground, but it left no trace

Close Encounters of the Second Kind

These are amongst the most compelling cases studied, since in a CE2, the UFO leaves trace evidence, or causes effects in the environment and the witnesses. CE2s are very important in ufology, as there is some sort of physical evidence that is left that can be studied and analyized. Other characteristics of a CE2 case are interference with electrical equipment or car engines, effects on a person that they feel, and effects on animals. Why some close encounters are of the first kind, and some are of the second kind, remains a mystery. Examples of Close encounters of the second kind are the Valensole Case, the Coyne Case, the Falcon Lake Case, and the Cash-Landrum incident.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This is where the witness actually observes occupants or animate objects on board the UFO, or around it. These are the proverbial "little green men" cases, although the occupants observed arent necessarily little, green, or men. These cases generally tend to be the hardest to prove, as the occuptants seldom leave any sort of evidence. However, some very solid CE3 cases exist from reliable witnesses, such as the Kelly-Hopkinsville Incident, the Gill Sighting, and the Socorro Case.

Added Categories

The success of Hynek's system has made it a mainstay of ufology research. However, the UFO phenomenon developed and became more complicated, and some researchers have added two additional classifications of encounter.

Close Encounter of the Fourth Kind

More commonly known as an alien abduction, the CE4 is where the witness is taken aboard the UFO, usually against their will but sometimes at an invitation, where they are subjected to medical experiments, tests, and strange scenarios created by their abductors. CE4s were a controversial addition to the Hynek Classification System, and in some schools of ufology are not considered to be a valid classification. Others have grudgingly accepted the addition because of the growing number of abductee reports.

Close Encounter of the Fifth Kind

This is perhaps the least recognized and most controversial addition, and in most ufologist circles, is not recognized. It is a classification added mainly by contactee groups. The CE5 is where the witness claims to be in continuous contact with alien minds and entities, usually through channeling, and is developing a relationship with the entities. Since few, if any emperical ufology groups recognize channeling and contactee groups as legitimate or credible aspects of the UFO phenomenon, the CE5 is seldom mentioned except amongst New Age Oriented UFO groups.

There is, however, another use for this rare 5th classification. In his book CE-5: Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind, Dr. Richard Haines defines this rare fifth classification as follows: Close Encounters of the fifth kind are reports of deliberate human behavior which was followed by an obvious response from an unidentified object and/or humanoid. The response of the craft or being included effects suggesting its response was not merely coincidental.

Overlaps in classification

There are numerous cases of UFO sightings where the encounter overlaps and encompasses several classifications. When a UFO creates physical landing marks and occupants are seen, it is a combination of a CE2 and a CE3, or sometimes a radar visual also results in physical trace evidence on the ground. Some of the best cases in UFO history are overlapping in category. Examples are the Rendelsham Forest Case, the Socorro Case, the Valensole case, and the Iranian Air Force case.

External links

• Hynek Classification System
  
• CUFOS website

Related discussion

• ET-Channelers: Con Artists vs. Genuine Messengers
• How to Report a UFO Sighting