[OVNI-SCIENCES] Catalogue

[Gross, Patrick]

Ci-dessous un extrait d'un des drafts GUP qui pourrait être utile ici. Désolé que ce soit en anglais, sans formatage, sans les figures, il y aura une version française. Merci de noter que c'est un extrait, et un brouillon ; tous les commentaires constructifs sont les bienvenus.

Cordialement
Patrick Gross

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Shapes classification for UFO sighting reports

Overview

When a UFO is observed, it is possible that its shape classification changes during the sighting. A unique object with constant physical boundaries can show many different shapes to its observers, depending on many factors and circumstances. 

The quality and reliability of reported properties of an observed UFO, and the topic of the issues in observing UFO properties, and the measurements methods, are not within the scope of this SOP. Only shape classification considerations are brought here. 

Shapes classification for UFO sighting reports
Number of geometric dimensions
Visually sighted UFO 

A visually sighted UFO has at least one geometric dimension but it can also have two or three apparent dimensions. 

The following categories are not to be mistaken for actual statements on the real number of dimensions of the sighted UFO. The moon, for example, in this classification, would be classified as "2D" when seen from the ground, as "3D" if observed from a rocket circling it and as "1D" if barely visible from some telescope lights years away. 

Typical misconceptions and errors abund in this area. For example people often use "sphere" instead of "circular". It is the duty of the ufologist to avoid all such traps. 

A visual angle is a plane angle that can be used to describe any spatial feature of a distant object for which this angle is within resolution range. 

The aspect ratio is a relation between two visual angles in two different planes, the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. For example, if the value of a visual angle in the horizontal plane is 10 and the value of the visual angle in the vertical plane is 5, the aspect ratio is 2:1, it means that the width is twice as large as the height. 

"1D" 

A visually sighted UFO with one dimension is noted "1D" and is defined as a UFO which appeared with all observed visual angles identically too small to provide any meaningful aspect ratio statement. 

Checklist: 

If the UFO sighting reporter has stated that the UFO was "round", you need to make sure whether he meant a circular shape or a mere point, by getting a significant visual angle. 

A "1D" classification precludes any further classifier. If the sighted UFO is put in the "1D" category, nothing more than "1D" can be said about its shape. 

A "1D" shape implies that angular elevation and angular bearing of the sighted UFO relative to the reporter can possibly be determined but that nothing can be said of an angular size of the sighted UFO beyond saying that its angular size was close to zero and no distinct visual angles exist. 

"2D" 

A visually sighted UFO with two geometric dimensions is noted "2D" and is defined as a UFO for which at least two visual angles are determined, but no depth can be determined. 

Checklist: 

If the UFO sighting reporter has able to determine zero or two aspect ratios, and if this can be assessed as reasonably true, then this UFO does not belong to the "2D" category but either to the "1D" or "3D" categories. 

One aspect ratio implies two distinct visual angular sizes. 

"3D" 

A visually sighted UFO with three geometric dimensions is noted "3D" and is defined as a UFO that was sighted in circumstances which allowed to estimated two different aspect ratios. The two aspect ratios must be assessed so that no reasonable doubt survive on their reality. 

Checklist: 

It can only be stated that the visually seen UFO belongs to the "3D" category when the chain of events points at the appropriate circumstances. An example would be an observation in which the observer walked around the UFO; by walking around the UFO, there is perception of its "3D" nature. 

UFO sightings that are not visual 

The above classification is applicable or non applicable depending on the perceptive organ or device. The eye, a camera, a radar are not equivalent in this respect. For example, a UFO may appear on a radarscope as a symbol whose shape has nothing to do with an actual shape of the UFO but is significant of other properties of the UFO than its shape. A video camera used with heavy zooming to get "more details" of a filmed UFO can produce apparent shapes that are mere artefacts. 

"0D" 

When the observation was not visual but though some device which produces no information on the number of geometric dimensions of the observed UFO, then is qualifies as a "0D", meaning that nothing can be said about its number of observed geometric dimensions. 

Symmetry classification
In the context of this shape classification, symmetry is exact correspondence of form and constituent configuration on opposite sides of a centered dividing line or plane or about a center or a centered axis. 

Bilateral symmetry is the property of being symmetrical on opposite sides of centered dividing line or plane. 

Radial symmetry is the property of symmetry about a center or a centered axis. 

Asymmetry is a lack of symmetry. 

The meaning of symmetry or asymmetry is dependant of other properties of UFOs that are part of this classification. For example, a UFO cannot be described as symmetric or asymmetric if it is categorized as "1D" in its umber of geometric dimensions. 

Outline symmetry 

A UFO can have an outline radial or bilateral symmetry or have an asymmetric outline. 

Features symmetry 

One or more features within the outline of the UFO can be symmetrical or asymmetrical too. 

Classification 

It is not necessary to use codes for information on symmetry, but if it is of interest, the codes in the table underneath can be used. The important part of the table is the list of symmetry classes in the right part of the table. 

OUT-ASSYM Asymmetric outline  OUT-RADSYM Radial symmetry in outline  OUT-BILLATSYM Bilateral symmetry in outline  OUT-SYM? No information about outline symmetry or asymmetry  [Feature]-ASSYM [Feature] is asymmetric  [Feature]-RADSYM [Feature] has radial symmetry  [Feature]-BILLATSYM [Feature] has bilateral symmetry  [Feature]-SYM? No information about outline symmetry or asymmetry of [Feature]  


Simple shape classification
In this context, shape is meant as the characteristic surface configuration of the outline or contour of a reported UFO or of features of the reported UFO. 

Primal shapes 

Primal shapes are: round, square, circle, rectangle, triangle, ellipse, line for "2D" types and sphere, tore, cone, cube, box, pyramid, ovoid, rod, tube for "3D" types. 

The above words are to be used whenever appropriate. 

Note: a pyramid has a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a common point. 

Composite shapes with radial symmetry 

Many different shapes with radial symmetry are possible. 

Composite shapes with bilateral symmetry 

Many different shapes with bilateral symmetry are possible. Past experiences in ufology and common sense suggest that a drawing of the shape is the simplest way to describe a shape; however, drawings are not generally convenient in the framework of a research project on many UFO sighting reports or to count shapes. 

A reasonable classification system for composite shapes with bilateral symmetry is based on picking up in a top to bottom order the simpler shapes from the following table and assigning the corresponding code. The top to bottom notion is meant to be taken in the manner gravity applies. For each component, the T, M., B letters are to be put before the index number of the component indicated in the table. For each component, the aspect ratio is to be indicated after the index number and inside parenthesis. There can be any numbers of components , provided the top to bottom order is respected by using "T" for the top component or only component, "B" for the bottom component or second component, and "M" for any component under the top component and above the bottom component. 

This grid provides number to indicate the shape of each component. Note that each shape has two numbers, one for each of the two orientations. 

Examples: 

If the shape is round: T1B22. (Note: a round shape has axial symmetry). 

If the shape is that of a long vertical object with rounded tips at the top and the bottom: T1M10(1:8)B22 

Composite shapes without symmetry

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