Category:

 Koi UFO Video 084: Meteor changing direction, emitting sparks (Night skydivers)

 

 

[DEBUNKED] Koi UFO Video 084 appears to show a meteor-like object in the night sky, emitting sparks and frequently changing direction.  This is one of several very similar videos that are regularly posted on UFO discussion forums.

In fact, as discussed below, the video shows night skydivers with magnesium flares.  Videos of some night-time parachute jumps (by teams such as the US Army Golden Knights team) are included below.

One of the problems within ufology is someone saying that a certain explanation (e.g. a meteor) does not explain the evidence, when no-one ever suggested that it was in fact a meteor! Basically, a "straw-man explanation" is set up and then attacked - rather than all possible explanations given proper consideration.

It is also amusing to note that many of the discussions of the above video immediately jumped to the conclusion that it clearly shows CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), when in fact that explanation is completely wrong. Some people have now become so jaded by "UFO" videos that, in the absence of any other conclusion being obvious to them, simply conclude it must be hoaxed footage.  In fact, many "UFO" videos and photographs are not hoaxed but are simply misinterpretations of mundane objects or put online out of context (whether innocently or deliberately) .

 

Sections below:

1. The relevant video

2. Stories and claims relating to this video

3. The real background to this video

4. Relevant online discussions

 

 

1. The relevant video

This video appears to show a meteor-like object in the night sky, emitting sparks and frequently changing direction.  

Screen shots from the video are included below for ease of identification:

 

 

 

 

 

2. Stories and claims relating to this video

This video, and ones very similar to it, appears online with titles such as "A meteor that changes direction???", "Ufo? Meteor Crash? Piracicaba, Brazil" and "UFO in Piracicaba, Brazil".

Some of the edited copies of this video include (incorrect, as discussed below) captions stating "17 February 2011, Somewhere in Brazil".

 

3. The real background to this video

This video shows night skydivers with magnesium flares.  Comparison videos of some night-time parachute jumps (by teams such as the US Army Golden Knights team) are included below.

One of the problems within ufology is someone saying that a certain explanation (e.g. a meteor) does not explain the evidence, when no-one ever suggested that it was in fact a meteor! Basically, a "straw-man explanation" is set up and then attacked - rather than all possible explanations given proper consideration.

It is also amusing to note that many of the discussions of the above video immediately jumped to the conclusion that it clearly shows CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), when in fact that explanation is completely wrong. Some people have now become so jaded by "UFO" videos that, in the absence of any other conclusion being obvious to them, simply conclude it must be hoaxed footage.  In fact, many "UFO" videos and photographs are not hoaxed but are simply misinterpretations of mundane objects or put online out of context (whether innocently or deliberately) .

While the above video includes an incorrect caption stating "17 February 2011, Somewhere in Brazil", such captions are often wrong (often apparently deliberately, presumably so an explanations are harder to find).  It's often useful to trace such videos back a bit.  The comments by the uploader of the above video state that it is a "Re upload from Disclosure...".  If you searching for recent videos on Youtube with the keywords UFO and Brazil then you can find the upload by Disclosure (as Youtube video gVzOYDqDqAY). The title of the video gives you more details about the location ("UFO in Piracicaba, Brazil") than the later versions of the video and the date (the uploaders comments state "UFO viewed while driving with friends back in July, 2007").  The uploader of the last of these videos (Youtube user "carlosdv") implies he filmed the video(a fact he subsequently confirmed in posts to the AboveTopSecret.com discussion forum).  Indeed, he posted some information in response to comments upon that video, including a comment that (translated to English using online software) states "This was filmed in the road of Limeira pra Piracicaba, close to an old device where they are constructing a new condominium. Of pra to see in the 1:15 that has the plate Clearly pra River, where you can catch the entrance of the road ring". The comments on that earlier upload of the video include fairly detailed discussion of the actual location and includes maps and some information I found to be particularly material: "It's a SKYDIVER : Based on the direction of the sign on route SP-147 and the proximity to exit 138 the "UFO" is right on top of the airfield used by 2 skydiving schools. He's using that firework for skydiving that attaches to the skydiver feet. zemane2010 2 years ago".

Thus, the video filmed in 2007 on top of an airfield used by 2 skydiving schools.

Details of a big parachute/skydiving club at the Piracicaba airfield in 2007/2008 can be found online on a website belonging to that club archived by the Wayback Machine.

The person that filmed the event subsequently posted details and a map online.  That map is embedded below. You can clearly see the airport runway, at which 2 skydiving clubs were based, near to the location of the "UFO".

 

I consider the above facts highly relevant to an assessment of the likelihood that the video shows a night skydiver.

With those facts in mind, have a look at some footage of night-time parachutists using magnesium flares.  For ease of reference, I've embedded a few relevant videos below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Relevant online discussions

Relevant discussions on the AboveTopSecret.com forum include the following:

2007 (September) discussion entitled "UFO in Piracicaba, Brazil July 2007 video"

2007 (October) discussion entitled "Meteor or possible ufo?"

2008 (August) discussion entitled "UFO on fire"

2010 (June) discussion entitled "Ufo fireball changing directions and disappearing"

2011 (February) discussion entitled "A meteor that changes direction???"