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Written by Gordon Neish
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Friday, 15 January 2010 09:50 |
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FOR some time now Bathgate has been known as the UFO capital of Scotland – is Dunoon now taking over this mantle?
After a report in last week’s Standard of strange lights in the sky seen from Ardentinny on January 1 a number of people have reported similar sightings.
Mrs MacLean of Dunoon was in one of many cars waiting for the 7.30pm Western Ferry at Hunter’s Quay when four orange lights passed silently overhead, travelling in a south-westerly direction in strict formation.
Mrs Paterson of Alexandra Parade reported two orange lights appearing shortly after midnight, then disappearing at 12.15. One re-appeared at around 12.20.
Mrs Newall of Fountain Key in Kirn also reported seeing an orange light passing her window at around 1am on January 1.
Another reader reports unusual light activity on Thursday, January 7.
A Kirn man was looking in the north east sector of the night sky at about 11.20pm when, in the vicinity of the Plough, a bright orange light appeared to rise vertically at the speed of an aircraft before slowing down. It then changed course slightly.
The source then reports that the lights extinguished and came back on a few times before disappearing. In common with other recent sightings, no sound whatsoever accompanied the lights.
The light was not seen overhead or in the southern sky. Oddly, the whole illumination was repeated 20 seconds later, with a second light following the same pattern as the first.
The witness said: “The lights were tracking south. It could have been a satellite with light reflecting off it, but that wouldn’t explain the sudden on-offs.”
Unidentified as these incidents might be, the most likely explanation for the ‘orange fiery lights’ seen in the early hours of January 1 is that they are Chinese lanterns released at midnight to mark the new year. These rice-paper globes can be up to four feet in diameter and have a small candle inside, which can burn for up to an hour. They drift with the wind and heat from the candle makes the lantern rise.
After confirming that there was no RAF activitiy in the area on January 1, Squadon Leader John Gilbert, the RAF’s low-flying spokesman, informed the Standard: “With effect from December 1 2009 the Ministry of Defence will no longer respond to, or investigate, UFO sighting reports.
“The MoD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life. However, in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom.
“The MoD has no specific capability for identifying the nature of such sightings. There is no defence benefit in such investigation and it would be an inappropriate use of defence resources. Furthermore, responding to reported UFO sightings diverts MoD resources from tasks that are relevant to defence.”
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Last Updated on Saturday, 06 February 2010 10:39 |
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