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UFOlogy 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Study of UFOs

  • Writer: AERA TEAM
    AERA TEAM
  • Oct 29
  • 3 min read

Updated: Oct 31

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What is UFOlogy?


UFOlogy is the study and investigation of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), now often called unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). While the term often brings to mind ideas of extraterrestrial visitors, the field is broader, focusing on unexplained objects or lights in the sky, observed, analyzed, and debated for over a century.


Brief History


  • Mystery sightings date back to ancient times, but modern UFOlogy began in 1947 with Kenneth Arnold’s famous “flying saucer” report near Mount Rainier, Washington.

  • Media attention and Cold War anxieties led to official studies like Project Sign, Grudge, and the extensive Project Blue Book (US Air Force, 1948–1969), which logged over 12,000 reports, about 6% remained unexplained.​

  • Major cases like the Roswell Incident (1947) and Rendlesham Forest (1980) became pillars of UFO folklore and investigation.


What Do UFOlogists Do?


  • Collect Data: Gather reports from civilians, pilots, military, and instrumented observations.

  • Investigate & Analyze: Compare sighting details to astronomical, meteorological, and human-made explanations. Many cases turn out to be planets, satellites, drones, balloons, or weather events.

  • Promote Open Science: Encourage transparency and critical thinking; no claim is accepted without evidence or review.


Skeptics and Advocates


  • Most UFOlogists reject sensationalism. Instead, they take a “sober, analytical approach,” promoting a mix of genuine curiosity, skepticism, and open-mindedness.​

  • Many government programs have concluded that most sightings are explainable, while a persistent minority remain unidentified and warrant scientific attention.


Key Resources & Where to Start


  • Official archives: Project Blue Book (US), GEIPAN (France), Canada’s Sky Canada Project.​

  • Private organizations: MUFON, CUFOS, SCU, and others.

  • Books & documentaries: “The Phenomenon” (doc), “The UFO Handbook” by Allan Hendry.​


Why Study UFOs?


  • For science: Some cases challenge current knowledge and deserve further study.

  • For the public: To provide calm, rational reporting free from ridicule.

  • For history: To track how cultures interpret the unknown, and how science advances in fits and starts.


Bottom Line


UFOlogy doesn’t guarantee aliens, but it does guarantee wonder, tough questions, and the pursuit of what’s really “out there.” Whether you’re a casual observer, a dedicated investigator, or just someone who’s had a strange experience, this field has a place for anyone with an open but critical mind.


Sources & Further Reading


Official & Archival Resources:

Key Organizations:


Books


  • "Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs" by Luis “Lue” Elizondo

  • "The UFO Handbook" by Allan Hendry

  • "UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record" by Leslie Kean

  • "UFOs and the National Security State" (Vols. 1 & 2) by Richard M. Dolan

  • "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" by Edward J. Ruppelt

  • "Above Top Secret" by Timothy Good

  • "In Plain Sight" by Ross Coulthart

  • "The Edge of Reality" by J. Allen Hynek & Jacques Vallée

  • "Encounter in Rendlesham Forest" by Nick Pope, John Burroughs, Jim Penniston

  • "Passport to Magonia" by Jacques Vallée

  • "Communion" by Whitley Strieber

  • "The Phoenix Lights" by Lynne D. Kitei

  • "Mirage Men" by Mark Pilkington

  • "The Secret History of Extraterrestrials" by Len Kasten

  • "The UFO Phenomenon" by Sean McNulty


Documentaries & TV Shows


  • The Phenomenon (2020, dir. James Fox)

  • Out of the Blue (2003, dir. James Fox)

  • I Know What I Saw (2009, dir. James Fox)

  • Unacknowledged (2017, dir. Michael Mazzola / Dr. Steven Greer)

  • Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018, dir. Jeremy Corbell)

  • Mirage Men (2013, dir. John Lundberg)

  • UFOs: The Lost Evidence (Travel Channel series)

  • Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified (2021, Netflix)

  • The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch (History Channel, 2020–)

  • Beyond Skinwalker Ranch (History Channel, 2023–)

  • Ancient Aliens (History Channel, TV series)

  • Contact (Discovery Channel, 2019)

  • The British UFO Files (TV Movie, 2004)


Scripted and Docuseries


  • Project Blue Book (2019–2020, scripted)

  • The X-Files (fictional, 1993–2018, with real-case inspirations)

  • Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Investigation (2019–2020)

  • Expedition Unknown: UFO Special (Travel Channel)

  • UFOs Declassified (2015)

  • Sightings (1991–1997)


Podcasts & Analysis:



This may not be the most comprehensive list of UFOlogy resources out there, but it’s more than enough to get you started and point you in the right direction as you dive deeper into the subject.




 
 
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