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ase ee NIGHTTIME ASTRONOMICAL SKY SURVEYS AND UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS ~ Carl Sagan * - : HELE Coneee Observatory | Lene Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, Massachusetts THieke are ‘severdl instances of extended observations of large fields of view of the night sky by ‘trained astronomical observers, These observations are usually performed in the context of meteor studies. One such is the Harvard Meteor Project, in which visual and photographic observations were performed (the latter with Super-Schmidt cameras, and a 60 degree field of view) in New Mexico during the period 1954-1058, Note that this is a locale and period characterized by extensive reports. of unidentified flying objects. In all, a surface area of 7 x 103 km2 was observed to 80 km altitude for a total period of 2x 10° minutes, Observations were good down to magnitude +4. No unexplained-ob- jects were detected. : “7 \ ’ x A second exainple of such anobgervation: program is the photographic and visual Le airje Networx of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The total area covered is about 10 km?, but only bright objects - brigiter than magnitude -8 - can be photographed, The cameras cover essentially the entire sky, and the netwo)« encompasses parts of the states of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wiinois, Colorado, and‘Missouri. In 2500 hours observing to date, no unexplained fly bos objec! ts have been detected, In fact, in the cases of both the Harvard Meteor: Project and the Smilhsonian Aatrophy sical Observatory Prairie Network, no bright moving objects other than meteors and occasional aircraft were detected, An even more extensive meteor survey, worldwide in scope, was performed during the LG.Y. under the direction of’Dr. Peter Millman of the-Natlonal Research ania of Canada. cUolortinately much ws this (he is still unreduced, Aten eee u % BO are <ieee These sky surveys are ‘much more craic in area and time than such previoys stellar Arne nomical. surveys as the Palomar Sky Atlas, which also showed no unusual objects. Especially ccn- sidc ring the experience of the observers inthe foregoing observations, it seems likely that the frequent reports of unidentified flying objects observed at night by individuals gee ALIS) dene eas sake ue skies are due to miainterpretationa of common astronomical pesecias Pa NNT Cele a : S3AIHOWY TWNOILWN 3HL JO SONIGIOH WOYS GIONGONdSY