World UFO Day: Celebrate Conspiracy and Mystery
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Though UFO sightings have been recorded for hundreds of years, it was only in the mid-twentieth century that humans became obsessed with the idea of alien life on earth. Following some well publicized sightings in 1947 – including the most famous of all, in Roswell, New Mexico – aliens and UFOs made their way into the mainstream. They appeared in movies, on television, and even in the news. Today, sightings are not as common as they once were. However, enthusiasts are encouraged to look to the skies every year on July 2 to celebrate World UFO Day and to search for the truth. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about World UFO Day.
World UFO Day
The truth is out there. Learn more about World UFO Day.
Every year on July 2nd, UFO and alien-enthusiasts gather to look up. This quirky holiday was first observed in 2001, though people have been watching the skies for unidentified flying objects for centuries.
Mount Rainier, Washington
Originally, there were two dates to celebrate UFOs. June 24th was one of these dates, and it was selected to coincide with the date of the first widely-reported sighting over Mount Rainier, Washington in 1947.
Roswell
However, July 2nd was finally chosen as the official date because of its connection to the infamous Roswell UFO conspiracy. Strange debris was found in the desert near this New Mexico town in 1947, and that incident inspired extensive media coverage. Some say it was an alien craft from space, while the government maintains the wreckage was a weather balloon. Either way, the incident connected the name Roswell with alien lore, and it sparked a worldwide fascination with UFOs and aliens.
More Sightings
Other real-life incidents followed not long after. The Mantell UFO incident of early 1948 involved a respected pilot who died in the pursuit of what he described as an unidentified flying object. In 1952, a series of unidentified bright lights appeared in the sky over Washington D.C.
Martians: A Cultural Phenomenon
Following that, Martians became a cultural phenomenon. Early films like “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “The War of the Worlds” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” showed human interest and fear in the subject.
This was followed by series like “Star Trek” and “Lost in Space” that explored outer space, and showed encounters between humans and alien life forms.
Finally, loveable creatures like “E.T.,” “Alf,” “My Favorite Martian” or Mork from Ork showed us that perhaps aliens should not be feared.
Mainstream Coverage
These alien and UFO appearances in pop culture have only increased with time. And real-life sightings have not slowed down. The general public rarely catches wind of UFO sightings, and when they do they’re quickly explained away. This is why many earthlings are still not satisfied that aliens have reached our planet.
Get Out and Look to the Skies
Statistically, there is a good chance that intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe, however whether or not they have visited our planet is up for debate. Whether or not you believe, next July 2nd is a great opportunity to get a group together to look to the skies in search of something unexplainable.
