What UFO? That's our Christmas party lights
SWINDON'S UFOs were nothing more than a Christmas party light show,
says the man claiming responsibility.
Since December 11, Swindon residents have been keeping a close eye on
the sky after student Chris Moran and his friends reported seeing a
bright, silvery object scooting over the town.
But now events company director Simon Maddison has stepped forward to
claim responsibility.
Mr Maddison, 39, from Purton, is director of Planet Pursuits, based at
Purton House.
He says the UFOs were lights shown in to the sky to guide guests into
Christmas parties at the Steam Museum.
"We were holding a theme party for 20 days in this workshop and had a
light outside that radiates a massive beam," Mr Maddison said.
"That's what people thought the UFO was.
"I saw the report in the paper and thought it was quite funny - that's
our light' I thought."
Spots of light photographed by Pete Munday on November 5
The light is so powerful the company needs an aviation licence for it.
"About 2,500 people have been through these doors in eight days for our
themed parties," Mr Maddison said.
"The light was outside to show people where the party was."
The Sky Rose 2500 HMI beam lit up the sky and could be seen for three
miles.
Mr Maddison said: "I'm not surprised people thought it was a UFO, it
emits 10 different beams and moves across the sky."
But UFO spotter Chris Moran is not convinced.
He said the UFO was too solid to be a beam of light, however strong the
sky cannon. "I have seen those but it was nothing like that," said the
18-year-old student.
"What I saw was an oval object, silver metallic-y and in the front
there was a white glow.
"It disappeared within three seconds."
Swindon astronomer Andy Maguire believes they could be explained by an
annual meteor shower.
He said it was possible that the sightings could be meteors from the
Geminids shower.
The meteor shower can be seen every year between December 7 and 16,
with the bulk of the meteors falling between the 11 and 12 - dates
which coincide with the strange sightings.
Stillunexplained
THE phenomenon of December 11 could be solved but another unidentified
object remains outstanding.
These spots of light were seen and photographed crossing the sky by BMW
worker Pete Munday on November 5. His four sons, Gary, Chris, Matthew
and James also spotted them and they have been the talking point of the
household ever since.
Pete snapped them using his digital camera, and the pictures you see
here have been zoomed in to try to bring out what detail there is.
Pete, 43, said: "It was the night of Bonfire Night, and we had been out
in the garden watching some of the fireworks when we spotted these
objects in the skies.
"At first it looked like one of those which hangs from a parachute and
floats down, but it didn't drop or go out, it just hung there.
"Later more appeared and they all seemed to converge on the same spot,
it was really odd. It wasn't an aeroplane or helicopter, it just
glowed."
"We were so intrigued that we looked it up on the internet and there
was a news report about similar-looking objects which were seen over
Newbury."
9:56am Thursday 21st December 2006
http://www.thisisswindon.co.uk/display.var.1085534.0.what_ufo_thats_our_christmas_party_lights.php
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
