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For the film, see Close Encounters of the Third Kind In ufology, a close encounter is an event where a person witnesses an unidentified flying object. This terminology and the system of classification behind it was developed by J. Allen Hynek, and was first suggested in his 1972 book The UFO Experience: A Scientific Study. Sightings more than 500 feet from the witness are classified as "Daylight Discs", "Nocturnal Lights" or "Radar/Visual Reports". Sightings within about 500 feet are subclassified as various types of "close encounter".
First kind A sighting of one or more unidentified flying objects; Second kind An observation of physical evidence of extra-terrestrial visitation; Third kind An observation of one or more occupants associated with one or more crafts. Hynek-Bloecher Scale Subtypes Subtypes of the Hynek scale, as identified by Ted Bloecher; A: An entity is observed only inside the UFO B: An entity is observed inside and outside the UFO C: An entity is observed near to a UFO, but not going in or out. D: An entity is observed. No UFOs are seen by the observer, but UFO activity has been reported in the area at about the same time E: An entity is observed. But no UFOs are seen and UFO activity has been reported in the area at that time F: No entity or UFOs are observed, but the subject experiences some kind of "intelligent communication" G: Abduction Subtypes D, E, and F may be unrelated with the UFO phenomenon. From UFO Casebook's Encounter Classification charts: H: The alien is either injured, captured, and/or killed by the witness(es) and/or military personnel. The UFO may be captured and/or destroyed by witness(es) and/or military personnel. Fourth kind An abduction by an extraterrestrial intelligence (corresponding to Bloecher;G). Class 1 - Forcible abduction Class 2 - willful agreement to be taken. In a Class 1 encounter abductees may experience severe reality distortion, memory lapses, "post abduction trauma" symptoms; including fear and anxiety, physiological effects, paralysis, and time-space disorientation. Class 2 events are technically classified as an abduction, but occur when a witness voluntary assists or willfully follows an entity. Fifth kind Direct communication between an extraterrestrial intelligence and a human being (corresponding to Bloecher;F). The least reported form of close encounter, sometimes associated with members of the New Age movement. Persons who claim to be in regular contact with alien life forms are known as contactees. Sixth kind The death of a human being or other animal during a witnessed encounter. Witnesses reporting UFOs flying above fields where cattle had been mutilated (See cattle mutilation) would be classified as a sixth-kind encounter. Seventh kind The creation of a human alien hybrid, either through sexual contact or by scientific means. See also | ||||||||
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