The Hynek Classification System

This is the traditional method of describing an event as a distant or close encounter of the first, second or third kind. The investigator should be aware that, unless the case report can reasonably rule out natural and man-made sources, the HYNEK rationale declares it to be a non-case, and so no value is given. HYNEK -
DE-1 - Nocturnal Light

DE-2 - Daylight Disc

DE-3 - Radar-visual

CE-1 - Light/object in Proximity

CE-2 - Physical Trace

CE-3 - Occupant

UFO reports differ in many details. But there are a number of similarities that recur in such features as shape, maneuverability, appearance, disappearance, sound and color. There are several basic observational categories into which sighting reports may be classified.

A. Relatively Distant Sightings

1. Noctunal Lights. These are sightings of well-defined lights in the night sky whose appearance amd/or motion are not explainable in terms of conventional light sources. The lights appear most often as red, blue, orange or white. They form the largest group of UFO reports.

2. Daylight Discs. Daytime sightings are generally of oval or dis- shaped, metallic-appearing objects. They can appear high in the sky or close to the ground, and they are often reported to hover. They can seem to disappear with astounding speed.

3. Radar-Visual cases. Of special significance are unidentified "blips" on radar screens that coincide with and confirm simultaneous visual sightings by the same or other witnesses. These cases are infrequent.

B. Relatively Close Sightings (within 200 yards)

1. Close Encounters of the First Kind (CE-I). Though the witness observes a UFO nearby, there appears to be no interaction with either the witness or the environment.

2. Close Encounters of the Second Kind (CE-II). These encounters include details of interaction between the UFO and the environment which may vary from interference with car ignition systems and electronic gear to miprints or burns on the ground and physical effects on plants, animals and humans.

3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE-III). In this category, occupants of a UFO - entities that are human-like ("humanoid") or not humanlike in apearance - have been reported. There is usually no direct contact or communication with the witness. However, in recent years, reports of incidents involving very close contact - even detainment of witnesses - have increased.

The Kinds of Evidence

In addition to eyewitness reports, scientific evidence for the presence of something very unusual falls in these categories:

1. Physical Traces. Compressed and dehydrated vegetation, broken tree branches, and imprints in the ground have all been reported. Sometimes a soil sample taken from an area where a UFO had been seen close to the ground will be determined, through laboratory analysis, to have undergone heating or other chemical changes not true of control sample.

2. Medical Records. Medical verification of burns, eye inflammations, temporary blindness, and other physiological effects attributed to encounters with UFOs - even the healing of previous conditions - can also constitute evidence, especially when no other cause for the effect can be determined by the medical examiner.

3. Radarscope Photos. A tape of traces from a radar screen on which a "blip" of a UFO is appearing is a powerful adjunct to a visual sighting, because it can be studied at leisure instead of during the heat of the moment of the actual sighting.

4. Photographs. While it might seem that photographs would be the best evidence for UFOs, this has not been the case. Hoaxes can be exposed very easily. But even those photos that pass the test of instrumented analysis and/or computer enhancement often show nothing more than an object of unknown nature, usually some distance from the camera, and very often out of focus. For proper analysis of a photo, the negative must be available and the photographer, witnesses and circumstances must be known. In a few exceptional cases, photos do exist that have been thoroughly examined and appear to show a structured craft.

source:

Dr. J. Allen Hynek


www.ufocasebook.com...

reply to post by joe82


Good post, although most Ufologist simplify the multiple terms. For example most will call anything that is observed in the daytime and not meeting the CE criteria a "DD", for night sightings of the same criteria they call them "NL". The terms really have nothing to do with shape of the craft, as most generalize the two terms I mentioned into all UFOs.

EDIT to add: There are many more terms in the Hynek system, some have been included to classify abductions, like the CE 4 and CE 5, but those are still highly disputed in the mainstream Ufology field. Here are a couple good sites to look at:

www.ufoevidence.org...

tinwiki.org...

[edit on 6/16/2009 by jkrog08]

www.jacquesvallee.net...


That is the most complete and detailed system I have seen, it contains multiple in-depth and detailed classifications. Hope this helps someone!

How about all triangles cause thats the most modern craft
detailed by recent witnesses in low level flight with proven
capabilities of UFO performance.

Imagine, all flat vertical sides and a flat top and bottom.
No more saucer shapes.

Originally posted by TeslaandLyne
How about all triangles cause thats the most modern craft
detailed by recent witnesses in low level flight with proven
capabilities of UFO performance.

Imagine, all flat vertical sides and a flat top and bottom.
No more saucer shapes.

Daylight disc is just a general classification. It does not mean the object observed was necessarily disc shaped. A daylight disc can be any shape: cigar, triangular, rectangular, ect. Hynek coined the term because during the period when he first designed the system, discs, round, or oval shapes were most commonly reported. However, they weren't the only ones. Triangular, square, star shaped, teardrop shaped, and dozens of other forms were reported as well.

The first sighting of a black triangle goes back to the 50's, and has never been explained.

On another note, two more controversial categories have been added to the system: CE IV and CE V. CEIV is alien abduction or actually boarding an alien craft in some way. CE V is supposedly people who channel/contact aliens through psychic means or something else like that.

needless to say, Hynek would be rolling in his grave over the last two. He might actually consider CE IV, though he would be cautious in adopting it. CE V would make his head spin.

All I can recall is Walton but he got knocked down by the
descending saucer.

Except the others may have given a good description.

A new landing in Russia is perhaps a hoax with giant
headless aliens coming out of a typical oval craft with
legs landing gear.

Another new landing, also on youtube, in Africa witnessed by
children with small aliens and the oval ship again with landing
gear legs.

If you've seen the German saucer pictures with three landing
gear pods, the design seems to have been adopted for the
triangle. In "Man Made UFO 1945 to 1995" the triangle is
mentioned as being sighted out west USA perhaps back in
the 50s.