UFOlogists can study home video recordings as evidence of UFO sightings.
A ufologist works to collect and document concrete physical evidence of extraterrestrial visits to Earth. This is done by reviewing reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), analyzing photos of the event, looking for and listening to other eyewitness reports, and, if there is a landing involved in a narrative, studying the landing site. The scientific merits of the field of ufology are often not well received, and as a result, funding for this area of study is scarce. Normally, a ufologist must work without pay.
A ufologist may ask for the names of people who were in a specific area during a UFO sighting.
The first step in a ufologist’s job is to hear a first-hand account of a UFO sighting. This will usually be done at the location where the person witnessed the UFO. After a detailed account has been recorded, the physical conditions surrounding the sighting will be recorded, such as the time of the sighting, weather conditions, as well as what the person was doing before and after the sighting. The UFO investigator will also ask for the names of other people who may have seen the UFO or descriptions of anyone else who has been in the area.
A UFO expert will then try to corroborate all the evidence provided, first checking the physical conditions at the time of the sighting. The ufologist can also ask about the credibility of the person reporting the sighting by checking what the person did before and after the sighting. Most ufologists feel that a sighting is stronger if it is seen by more than one person and from multiple locations. As a result, the UFO investigator will attempt to record the narrative of other people who may have seen the sighting.
If a photo of the sighting was taken, the ufologist will ask for a copy of the photo and a file for analysis. The image will be compared to the reported physical conditions to see if they reasonably match. In addition, the quality of the image will be evaluated based on the clarity of the image, the quality of the film processing and the coincidence with the viewing location.
When a sighting includes a landing, the ufologist will examine the landing area. He will photograph the area to document any physical evidence of a landing. Finally, the UFO investigator will make a report exposing all the evidence as objectively as possible. These reports are often posted on UFO magazine websites or websites established as a clearinghouse for UFO sightings.
UFO investigators also frequently analyze trends in sightings. An investigator can search for geographic locations where sightings are numerous or the time of day or year when most sightings occur. The UFO expert may even collect data on personality traits, physical appearance, or experiences of people who see UFOs and try to determine the profile of a person who might see a UFO.