In his book 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry', J. Allen Hynek suggested a way to categorise different types of reported UFO encounters.
The 'Hynek Scale' later entered the publics attention with the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.
The 'Hynek Scale' later entered the publics attention with the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.
J. Allen Hynek
J. Allen Hynek cameos in the movie 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. When Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was released in the summer of 1977, it was a massive box office success. At the time it was Columbia Pictures most successful film ever, and was considered a science fiction classic.
However, it did more than entertain the masses, as it also brought to the public’s attention the scale in which 'real life' close encounters are classified.
A close encounter is an event where a person witnesses an unidentified flying object and/or its occupants. Created by Astronomer and UFO researcher J. Allen Hynek, the term itself, and the system of classification, were first suggested in his book 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry'.
However, it did more than entertain the masses, as it also brought to the public’s attention the scale in which 'real life' close encounters are classified.
A close encounter is an event where a person witnesses an unidentified flying object and/or its occupants. Created by Astronomer and UFO researcher J. Allen Hynek, the term itself, and the system of classification, were first suggested in his book 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry'.
A Close Encounter of the Third Kind (from the movie). Hynek first ventured into ufology when he was contacted by the United States Air Force 'Project sign', a project that came about in response to the many UFO sightings in the 1940's. Hynek was to study the many reports of sightings, and decide whether each one equated to a known astronomical object. He did not believe in UFOs, and his Astronomy background, along with his sceptical nature, suited Project Sign perfectly, they wanted UFOs and sightings to be debunked, even if Hynek had to stretch definitions and descriptions to fit.
Over time, the project changed names (to 'project grudge' and then 'project blue book'), but Hyneks non-belief was beginning to sway. Not all of those reporting sightings were everyday civilians, but reports were coming in from those who would know the difference between manmade craft, astronomical bodies, and something as yet unknown. He began to come across events that just could not be explained.
Over time, the project changed names (to 'project grudge' and then 'project blue book'), but Hyneks non-belief was beginning to sway. Not all of those reporting sightings were everyday civilians, but reports were coming in from those who would know the difference between manmade craft, astronomical bodies, and something as yet unknown. He began to come across events that just could not be explained.
The Hynek Scale
From the movie - about to have a CE3. In 1972 he wrote 'The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry', and in it came his classification system for types of UFO sightings, and to aid in the scientific study. It is known as the Hynek Scale, and had three main categories of close encounters:
First Kind – this is for sightings of an unidentified object. The object must be sighted within 500feet of the witness to reduce the possibility of misidentifying known craft and phenomena.
Second Kind – This is a visual sighting that is accompanied with physical evidence.
Third Kind – This includes the sighting of the unidentified object, as well as its occupants. This is also the name of Steven Spielberg's movie, which culminates in this experience in the final scene. Allen Hynek was also a consultant for the movie, and makes a cameo appearance towards the end.
Each of these categories have later had subcategories added to them, especially the third kind, depending on the exact nature of the observation, and what took place, i.e. Whether the occupant was seen inside or outside of the craft etc.
The term 'occupant', instead of 'alien' or 'extraterrestrial', was used by Hynek, as he did not believe there was enough evidence to suggest these beings were from off world, or that they were of a physical reality at the time of creating the scale.
First Kind – this is for sightings of an unidentified object. The object must be sighted within 500feet of the witness to reduce the possibility of misidentifying known craft and phenomena.
Second Kind – This is a visual sighting that is accompanied with physical evidence.
Third Kind – This includes the sighting of the unidentified object, as well as its occupants. This is also the name of Steven Spielberg's movie, which culminates in this experience in the final scene. Allen Hynek was also a consultant for the movie, and makes a cameo appearance towards the end.
Each of these categories have later had subcategories added to them, especially the third kind, depending on the exact nature of the observation, and what took place, i.e. Whether the occupant was seen inside or outside of the craft etc.
The term 'occupant', instead of 'alien' or 'extraterrestrial', was used by Hynek, as he did not believe there was enough evidence to suggest these beings were from off world, or that they were of a physical reality at the time of creating the scale.
Later Additions to the Scale
There have been many real world close encounters. Later on, unofficial yet accepted extra categories were added, as the nature of experiences changed, or new types of experiences came to light. Each of these extra categories have been suggested by different people or groups/societies.
Fourth Kind – The witness had been abducted by the UFO or its occupants. Also it tends to include experiences where the witness’s sense of reality had been transformed, while in proximity of the craft or its occupants.
Fifth Kind – communication with the occupants i.e. extraterrestrial intelligence. This can be voluntary, involuntary, using the ability of speech and hearing or telepathically.
Sixth Kind – This is an encounter where the outcome is injury or death. It is argued these are just close encounters of the second kind, due to the fact that the injury or death constitutes physical evidence.
Seventh Kind – this is for encounters where 'mating' is initiated, in order to produce a hybrid human-alien. This can be voluntary or involuntary on the part of the experiencer.
There is an Eighth Kind, but it is so similar to the Seventh Kind I cannot work out the difference.
All of these encounters can, and often are, abbreviated as CE1, CE2, CE3... CE (Close Encounter) 1 (First Kind) etc. Close encounters earlier on the scale do seem to be more common than those appearing later on the scale. Witnesses seeing unidentified objects are much more common than those who have suffered injury or died during such an event.
Do you believe you have had a 'Close Encounter'?
What category did it fall under?
Fourth Kind – The witness had been abducted by the UFO or its occupants. Also it tends to include experiences where the witness’s sense of reality had been transformed, while in proximity of the craft or its occupants.
Fifth Kind – communication with the occupants i.e. extraterrestrial intelligence. This can be voluntary, involuntary, using the ability of speech and hearing or telepathically.
Sixth Kind – This is an encounter where the outcome is injury or death. It is argued these are just close encounters of the second kind, due to the fact that the injury or death constitutes physical evidence.
Seventh Kind – this is for encounters where 'mating' is initiated, in order to produce a hybrid human-alien. This can be voluntary or involuntary on the part of the experiencer.
There is an Eighth Kind, but it is so similar to the Seventh Kind I cannot work out the difference.
All of these encounters can, and often are, abbreviated as CE1, CE2, CE3... CE (Close Encounter) 1 (First Kind) etc. Close encounters earlier on the scale do seem to be more common than those appearing later on the scale. Witnesses seeing unidentified objects are much more common than those who have suffered injury or died during such an event.
Do you believe you have had a 'Close Encounter'?
What category did it fall under?
Ashley Hall 2013
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