Johannesburg - Forget the X-Files, Doctor Who and Falling Skies. World UFO Day is here, and it sure isn’t a Hollywood film.
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are mysterious flying objects that can’t be scientifically explained.
The objects can be seen as inexplicable flashing lights or strange shapes in the sky. They are often said to be a vehicle carrying extraterrestrial beings, or aliens.
According to the World UFO Day website, the point of the day, celebrated on July 2, is to mark the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life. “The goal is to celebrate and raise awareness of the existence of UFOs.”
South Africa is not new to UFO sightings. There have been multiple reported sightings, dating all the way back to 1956.
UFO Research South Africa (UfoRSA) runs a website which gives South Africans the opportunity to report UFO sightings.
“The goal (of the website) is either to prove or disprove UFOs, with the help of volunteer UFO enthusiasts all over South Africa,” the group says.
According to UfoRSA records, the most recent sighting was on June 20 in Eldoraigne, Centurion. A woman described seeing “three orange lights in the western sky while driving home in the direction of Raslouw”.
UfoRSA founder Gert Jordaan said they receive between two and eight sightings a week. “Some can be explained, such as a plane or helicopter in the distance (daytime sightings). Some can be planets or satellites (night sightings).”
For those looking to find a UFO, KwaZulu-Natal seems to be the place to go. It is said to be a hotspot for UFO activity, presumably due to the mountain ranges and lack of pollution.
Jordaan said Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were the main areas for UFO sightings
.
The website suggests celebrating UFO day in the following ways:
l Watch the sky with friends and spot strange objects flying around.
l Take pictures of strange objects in the sky.
l Create original-looking UFOs out of frisbees or perform other creative actions.
l Have conversations about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and start discussions.
l Share knowledge (books, videos, etc) with proof that UFOs exist.
l Watch alien movies together.
The Star