In the history of UFOlogy, the most influential figure in classifying UFO sightings was Dr. Joseph Allen Hynek. A professor of astronomy at NorthWestern University, Dr. Hynek gave UFOlogy intellectual respectability by recognizing that sighting reports were its principal source of data.
Hynek divided accounts into two types: those where the witnesses was more than five hundred feet from the object and those where the witnesses was less than five hundred feet from the object – so called close encounters.
He created the first category of UFO sighting consists of three different types;
1. Nocturnal lights – these are lights in the sky that cannot be accounted for by man-made craft, meteorological or astronomical phenomena;
2. Daylight discs – these are solid craft, not necessarily disc-shaped, that cannot be accounted for by man-made craft;
3. Radar visual – these are anomalous readings on an electronic device, not necessarily radar that cannot be explained by any man-made phenomena.
The second category classified as close encounters, is divided into six types:
1. Close Encounters of the First Kind (CE1) – the witnesses come within five hundred feet of an anomalous object; but it has no interaction whatsoever with the witnesses of the environment.
2. Close Encounters of the Second Kind (CE2) – the witnesses comes within the five hundred feet of an anomalous object that leaves some damage or physical evidence in the environment.
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE3) – the alien beings are seen inside or close to the object, and who may or may not have some contact with the witness.
4. Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE4) – the witness experienced mental or physical change due to direct interaction with alien beings.
5. Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind (CE5) – the witness can initiate encounters by contacting aliens physically or mentally.
6. Close Encounters of the Sixth Kind (CE6) – the witness is possessed by a non-physical alien entity
The last three categories (CE4, CE5, CE6) were not really included in Hynek’s classification system because he was skeptical about abduction accounts. He did not feel that there was enough solid evidence in abduction reports.
However, since Hynek died in 1986, a new generation of UFOlogists has made full use of these alien classifications.
VALLEE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
French UFOlogist Jacques Francis Vallee had classified UFO sightings as Fly-bys (FB) and Maneuvers (MA).
The Fly-bys category is divided into 5 types.
1. FB1 – UFO is seen flying in a straight line;
2. FB2 – UFO is flying in a straight line that leaves behind physical evidence
3. FB3 – Fly-by with alien beings seen on board;
4. FB4 – Fly-by with the witness experiencing a sense of altered reality
5. FB5 – Fly-by that results in injury or death.
The Maneuvers category is also divided into 5 types;
1. MA1 – UFO seen traveling in an erratic manner;
2. MA2 – UFO maneuvers causing physical effects;
3. MA3 – UFO maneuvering with alien beings seen on board;
4. MA4 – UFO seen traveling in an erratic manner with the witness experiencing a sense of altered quality;
5. MA5 – UFO maneuvers that cause injury or death.
