Originally posted by argentus
OP, any additional info you can give us to help us to replicate your experience will be greatly appreciated!
Thats just it, I really dont know why some people dont see em, to me, its like seeing a fish in a pond, its just there and you wonder why some people
cant see it.
Perhaps have a friend or two sit out with you so you can scan the skys in a larger degree?
I will say, there are times that it takes 20-25 minutes at times before seeing something (besides shooting stars, planes, helicopters, etc).
just look at stars, look at them for a few seconds with your naked eye, look for any oddities, anything moving, then move to a different section of
the sky.
the person I talked to theorized that your seeing the sun reflecting off of the object, hense why you watch them right after sundown for about 90
minutes when they are most visible, after which, they are in shadow..
and I have not seen many after about 10:30pm here (which is about right...stars start coming out at about 9pm here currently).
Have binos closeby, but keep in mind the binos are to verify its not a airplane...use naked eye to spot em to begin with, else you are seriously
limiting your field of view.
I tried something last night, I am agnostic and so no real structured religion or prayer. I have a love for science and a open mind about
possibilities. I did a prayer last night...not a our father or anything...just stating my beliefs to date and possibilities I entertain (genetic
manipulation, watchers, etc)...if anyone was listening in, they would have probably wrote it off as a dissertation of fringe science and quantum
physics I was having by myself, but whatever...to me, it was fully based in a actual belief. During this "prayer", I seen 3...interrupting me each
time...this was the most at a single time I seen...
Coincidence? maybe...but hey, if someone says dance on a leg and ring a bell and you will see a leprecaun...might as well give it a go and see what
happens. I think if that does have anything to it, its not the words that mattered, it was the belief and intent of the words that mattered..it was
stuff I truely believed...hell, if I was simply quoting darwinian science and applying it towards galactic evolution, it might have had the same
effect...basically stimulating a different part of the mind.
again, this is all just shoot from the hip speculation...in all honesty, I dont know how to improve chances...so, try different things (someone
suggested a flashlight to flash em when you see em and they will do some funky stuff...havent tried that yet.)
Theres plenty of people on the net that call themselves ufo summoners and such, and they do these prayers and all sorts and then go on about how since
they seen something after they pray, what they pray for or to therefore is the only way...this I fully disagree with...if my agnostic arse can see the
same and more things they see, then I could put the argument that simply a open mind is important, but frankly, I believe you dont even need a open
mind to see em...again, its like seeing a fish in a pond...its simply there and cannot be denied...now, theories of what they are can be numerous.
So, to make a short story long

my suggestions are:
have binos closeby, but scan with the naked eye
do it after sun goes down for 2 hours
dont get bored...it can get boring at times...listen to some music (not too noisy though, nothing that detracts from attention)
have a friend or two help scan.
say a belief system that incorporates something greater than yourself on a galactic level (aka, prayer...if the our father works...sure..but just make
sure the belief is there...not a hope, a actual belief..even if its silly or scientific).
be away from light pollution if possible
I find the best time is about 9:30ish timeframe...so dont get disappointed if you dont see within the first 20 minutes or so.
that help?