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Definition: UFO is an acronym for "Unidentified Flying Object" and technically refers to any object sighted in the sky but which is not or cannot be identified. In practice, however, it is actually used to refer to objects in the sky which have not been positively identified and therefore, it is assumed, they must be alien spacecraft visiting out planet.
Curiously, the sheer number of reported UFOs actually argues against the reality of alien visitors being genuine. Ian Ridpath made this argument:
Imagine, for a moment, that there are one million other civilizations in the galaxy, all sending out starships. Since there must be something like 10 billion interesting places to visit (one-tenth of all stars in the galaxy), then each civilization must launch 10,000 spaceships annually for only one to reach here every year. If each civilization launches the more reasonable number of one starship annually, then we would expect to be visited once very 10,000 years. Alternatively, the higher number of reported UFOs might be taken as indicating that we are something special. If so, then life cannot be a very common phenomenon in the galaxy - and thus there would be fewer civilizations to send out starships, and we would expect a smaller number of UFOs.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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