The Chicago O'Hare UFO sighting on November 7, 2006 could go down as a bellweather event in UFOlogy circles due to the number of credible witnesses, including a couple of airline pilots.
I'm by no means a UFO afficianado but do have more than a passing interest in the aviation business. Official reports of flying saucers from the industry are rare. People simply don't want the negative stereotyping, kook accusations, etc, so their willingness to come forward in this event is notable. No doubt about it--they saw something.
Lacking an easy explanation these events often get dumped in the lap of "unexplained atmospheric phenomena". Apparently some folks have no problem believing that scientists still don't know everything about the atmosphere (except when it comes to global warming, of course). So, let's check the weather at ORD on November 7 during the 3 to 4 o'clock hour:
KORD 072151Z 27007KT 4SM HZ OVC019 12/09 A2980The cloud ceiling was indeed 1900 feet above ground level just as the story says. The sky was overcast and visibility was 4-5 miles in haze, which wouldn't restrict vertical visibility, per se. There is a human observer at the field but lacking changeable conditions there is no requirement to venture out and look at the sky except during the regularly scheduled observations at 45-50 minutes past each hour. So the weatherman has an alibi for not seeing anything.
KORD 072251Z 23004KT 5SM HZ OVC019 12/09 A2980
The sun was at a position in the low western sky where optical refractive effects would be more likely than say at high noon, a topic I'll leave to the experts, but based on known facts ball lightning or halo phenomena would seem unlikely. Sunset occurred at 4:38 pm that evening, so while not dark it would have been rather dim, lending some credibility to the light bouncing off the clouds scenario, but frankly that's an insult--most airline workers would recognize the difference.
It's surprising nobody has mentioned these things yet, but if we've got disk-shaped UAVs with the ability to hover, well, that might explain it. Unfortunately without video, even with credible witnesses, they've got nothing.
MORE 1/2/07
It just dawned on me--November 7th was election day. Ladies and gentlemen, start your conspiracies!
ROGER, WILCO 1/2/07
The reason FAA tower personnel might not see a UFO perched directed overhead is easy--they can't see straight up without going outside. Towers are designed for mainly horizontal visibility--where all the planes are. They have tinted shades that are normally pulled down that would further restrict upward viewing angles.
But the UFOlogists should restrain their giddiness. Apparently there are few if any reports coming from the general public. Thousands of people approaching or surrounding the airport would have been in position to see this thing. If the object wasn't visible from lower angles it sounds more like an optical effect.
UPDATE 1/7/07
The French Space Agency CNES will soon open their vault of UFO reports to the public, according to Reuters (via AvWeb). The story says many of the reports come from airline industry professionals and law enforcement personnel. Fascinating.
UPDATE 1/7/07
Much more here. While I don't know much about this UFO reporting center, I do know it is listed as a contact for many weather offices around the country, who sometimes get public reports of UFOs. Take it for what it's worth.
ONCE MORE 1/7/07
This MSNBC reporter grills the National UFO Reporting Center director, suggesting strange clouds, like lenticular clouds, might be the explanation. As shown above, the sky condition was overcast at 1900 feet with west winds, usually indicative of colder air aloft behind a departing storm. These clouds were probably strato-cumulus. Lenticular clouds are formed by air flow over mountain ridges, clearly absurd in this case. However, cold air aloft can cause some very weird clouds, some resembling Mammatus clouds. My jury is still out.
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