Monthly Archives: August 2010

Deer diary: an accidental UFO

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Mark

One day I hope a photographic art gallery will run an exhibition of UFO photos, and if they do, I would want to see this one in it. It captures a moment of pure otherness, the deer staring straight at … Continue reading →

Posted in Images, UFO | 3 Comments

The Great Moon Hoax of 1835

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Mark

Extraterrestrial hoaxes have a long and venerable history: As announcements go, the following – made in the New York Sun newspaper, on this day (25 August) in 1835 – is a tantalising one: GREAT ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES LATELY MADE BY SIR JOHN … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History | Leave a comment

Luminous Owls

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Mark

‘That luminous Barn Owls have been seen before in the same part of Norfolk is certain… We have it on the best authority – namely, from the man himself – that some years ago Frederick Rolfe, gamekeeper now retired, saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Lore, UFO | 5 Comments

Gaspipe, the Dripper and other black world denizens

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Mark

An article by William B. Scott in Air and Space Magazine describes the chills and thrills of black aircraft chasing at Edwards AFB (above) and Area 51. These closing comments are particularly relevant to Mirage Men. ‘UFO stench’ though… phew, … Continue reading →

Posted in Deception, History, Technology, UFO | 1 Comment

Them and the Thing

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Mark

‘A science fiction film featuring astronomer Sir Patrick Moore has been unearthed, more than 50 years since it was filmed in the grounds of an Irish country estate. Them and the Thing was the work of aristocrat Desmond Leslie, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Lore, UFO | Leave a comment

Daily Grail interview

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Mark

Greg Taylor of the excellent Daily Grail paranormal culture site has published a lengthy e-interview with me about Mirage Men.  We discuss many of the issues emerging from the book – how did John Lundberg and I cope with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mirage Men Book | 2 Comments

The Unblinking Eye

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Mark

A constant feature  of UFO reports is that the objects appear to demonstrate technological characteristics and flight capabilities that are just around the corner from familiar, contemporary technologies. They also often seem to borrow from popular fiction. In the late … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Technology, UFO | 1 Comment

Mirage Men on BBC Radio 4’s Today

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Mark

Astronomer Ian Ridpath (right), a key investigator into the December 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO incident, lead myself, Today presenter Evan Davis (centre) and producer Jonathan Harvey deep into the pine woods for what almost became the Blair Witch UFO project. Cue lots … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, UFO | 2 Comments

Nick Redfern on ‘Mirage Men’

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Mark

Staffordshire-born Nick Redfern, now a resident of Dallas, Texas is a one-man fortean tornado, producing a shelf-full of books on everything from UFOs to Britain’s own bigfoot. Over many years Nick has done a fantastic job of digging up obscure … Continue reading →

Posted in Mirage Men Book, Reviews | 1 Comment

Fortean Times: ‘Weapons of Mass Deception’ online

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Mark

Fortean Times magazine has put my article from issue 266 (July 2010) online. It’s a reworked section from the book, discussing what proved to be the turning point in early UFO history – the July 1952 radar ‘sightings’ over Washington … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Technology, UFO | 6 Comments