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Mystery: Belgian UFO Wave 1989-1990

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  1. series
    similar things placed in order or one after another
    The Belgian UFO wave refers to a series of sightings of triangular UFOs in Belgium, which lasted from November 29, 1989 to April 1990.
  2. event
    something that happens at a given place and time
    The Belgian UFO wave peaked with the events of the night of 30/31 March 1990.
  3. unknown
    not known
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  4. object
    a tangible and visible entity
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  5. track
    a line or route along which something travels or moves
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  6. photograph
    a picture taken with a camera or phone that shows people or scenes
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  7. estimate
    judge tentatively
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  8. describe
    give a statement representing something
    On that night unknown objects were tracked on radar, photographed, and were sighted by an estimated 13,500 people on the ground - 2,600 of whom filed written statements describing in detail what they had seen.
  9. incident
    a single distinct event
    Following the incident the Belgian air force released a report detailing the events of that night.
  10. release
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
    Following the incident the Belgian air force released a report detailing the events of that night.
  11. report
    to give an account or representation of in words
    Following the incident the Belgian air force released a report detailing the events of that night.
  12. supervisor
    one who has charge and direction of
    At around 23:00 on 30 March the supervisor for the Control Reporting Center (CRC) at Glons received reports that three unusual lights were seen moving towards Thorembais-Gembloux which lies to the South-East of Brussels.
  13. control
    power to direct or determine
    At around 23:00 on 30 March the supervisor for the Control Reporting Center (CRC) at Glons received reports that three unusual lights were seen moving towards Thorembais-Gembloux which lies to the South-East of Brussels.
  14. center
    an area that is in the middle of some larger region
    At around 23:00 on 30 March the supervisor for the Control Reporting Center (CRC) at Glons received reports that three unusual lights were seen moving towards Thorembais-Gembloux which lies to the South-East of Brussels.
  15. receive
    get something; come into possession of
    At around 23:00 on 30 March the supervisor for the Control Reporting Center (CRC) at Glons received reports that three unusual lights were seen moving towards Thorembais-Gembloux which lies to the South-East of Brussels.
  16. vertex
    the highest point of something
    The lights were reported to be brighter than stars, changing color between red, green and yellow, and appeared to be fixed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
  17. request
    express the need or desire for; ask for
    At this point Glons CRC requested the Wavre gendarmerie send a patrol to confirm the sighting.
  18. confirm
    strengthen
    At this point Glons CRC requested the Wavre gendarmerie send a patrol to confirm the sighting.
  19. approximately
    imprecise but fairly close to correct
    Approximately 10 minutes later a second set of lights was sighted moving towards the first triangle.
  20. initial
    occurring at the beginning
    By around 23:30 the Wavre gendarmerie had confirmed the initial sightings and Glons CRC had been able to observe the phenomenon on radar.
  21. observe
    watch attentively
    By around 23:30 the Wavre gendarmerie had confirmed the initial sightings and Glons CRC had been able to observe the phenomenon on radar.
  22. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
    By around 23:30 the Wavre gendarmerie had confirmed the initial sightings and Glons CRC had been able to observe the phenomenon on radar.
  23. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
    During this time the second set of lights, after some erratic manoeuvres, had also formed themselves into a smaller triangle.
  24. target
    a reference point to shoot at
    After tracking the targets and after receiving a second radar confirmation from the Traffic Center Control at Semmerzake, Glons CRC gave the order to scramble two F-16 fighters from Beauvechain Air Base shortly before midnight.
  25. confirmation
    information that verifies
    After tracking the targets and after receiving a second radar confirmation from the Traffic Center Control at Semmerzake, Glons CRC gave the order to scramble two F-16 fighters from Beauvechain Air Base shortly before midnight.
  26. traffic
    vehicles or pedestrians traveling in a particular locality
    After tracking the targets and after receiving a second radar confirmation from the Traffic Center Control at Semmerzake, Glons CRC gave the order to scramble two F-16 fighters from Beauvechain Air Base shortly before midnight.
  27. scramble
    move hurriedly
    After tracking the targets and after receiving a second radar confirmation from the Traffic Center Control at Semmerzake, Glons CRC gave the order to scramble two F-16 fighters from Beauvechain Air Base shortly before midnight.
  28. base
    lowest support of a structure
    After tracking the targets and after receiving a second radar confirmation from the Traffic Center Control at Semmerzake, Glons CRC gave the order to scramble two F-16 fighters from Beauvechain Air Base shortly before midnight.
  29. throughout
    from first to last
    Throughout this time the phenomenon was still clearly visible from the ground, with witnesses describing the whole formation as maintaining their relative positions while moving slowly across the sky.
  30. visible
    capable of being seen or open to easy view
    Throughout this time the phenomenon was still clearly visible from the ground, with witnesses describing the whole formation as maintaining their relative positions while moving slowly across the sky.
  31. maintain
    keep in a certain state, position, or activity
    Throughout this time the phenomenon was still clearly visible from the ground, with witnesses describing the whole formation as maintaining their relative positions while moving slowly across the sky.
  32. relative
    not absolute or complete
    Throughout this time the phenomenon was still clearly visible from the ground, with witnesses describing the whole formation as maintaining their relative positions while moving slowly across the sky.
  33. municipality
    a local district having powers of self-government
    Witnesses also reported two dimmer lights towards the municipality of Eghezee displaying similar erratic movements to the second set of lights.
  34. display
    something intended to communicate a particular impression
    Witnesses also reported two dimmer lights towards the municipality of Eghezee displaying similar erratic movements to the second set of lights.
  35. similar
    having the same or nearly the same characteristics
    Witnesses also reported two dimmer lights towards the municipality of Eghezee displaying similar erratic movements to the second set of lights.
  36. attempt
    make an effort
    Over the next hour the two scrambled F-16s attempted nine separate interceptions of the targets.
  37. separate
    standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything
    Over the next hour the two scrambled F-16s attempted nine separate interceptions of the targets.
  38. occasion
    an event that occurs at a critical time
    On three occasions they managed to obtain a radar lock for a few seconds but each time the targets changed position and speed so rapidly that the lock was broken.
  39. manage
    be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
    On three occasions they managed to obtain a radar lock for a few seconds but each time the targets changed position and speed so rapidly that the lock was broken.
  40. obtain
    come into possession of
    On three occasions they managed to obtain a radar lock for a few seconds but each time the targets changed position and speed so rapidly that the lock was broken.
  41. speed
    a rate at which something happens
    On three occasions they managed to obtain a radar lock for a few seconds but each time the targets changed position and speed so rapidly that the lock was broken.
  42. accelerate
    move faster
    During the first radar lock, the target accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,770 km/h while changing altitude from 2,700 m to 1,500 m, then up to 3,350 m before descending to almost ground level – the first descent of more than 900 m taking less than two seconds.
  43. altitude
    elevation above sea level or above the earth's surface
    During the first radar lock, the target accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,770 km/h while changing altitude from 2,700 m to 1,500 m, then up to 3,350 m before descending to almost ground level – the first descent of more than 900 m taking less than two seconds.
  44. descend
    move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
    During the first radar lock, the target accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,770 km/h while changing altitude from 2,700 m to 1,500 m, then up to 3,350 m before descending to almost ground level – the first descent of more than 900 m taking less than two seconds.
  45. level
    a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
    During the first radar lock, the target accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,770 km/h while changing altitude from 2,700 m to 1,500 m, then up to 3,350 m before descending to almost ground level – the first descent of more than 900 m taking less than two seconds.
  46. descent
    a movement downward
    During the first radar lock, the target accelerated from 240 km/h to over 1,770 km/h while changing altitude from 2,700 m to 1,500 m, then up to 3,350 m before descending to almost ground level – the first descent of more than 900 m taking less than two seconds.
  47. subsequent
    following in time or order
    Similar manoeuvres were observed during both subsequent radar locks.
  48. pilot
    someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
    On no occasion were the F-16 pilots able to make visual contact with the targets and at no point, despite the speeds involved, was there any indication of a sonic boom.
  49. visual
    relating to or using sight
    On no occasion were the F-16 pilots able to make visual contact with the targets and at no point, despite the speeds involved, was there any indication of a sonic boom.
  50. contact
    the act of touching physically
    On no occasion were the F-16 pilots able to make visual contact with the targets and at no point, despite the speeds involved, was there any indication of a sonic boom.
  51. involved
    connected by participation or association or use
    On no occasion were the F-16 pilots able to make visual contact with the targets and at no point, despite the speeds involved, was there any indication of a sonic boom.
  52. indication
    the act of pointing out by name
    On no occasion were the F-16 pilots able to make visual contact with the targets and at no point, despite the speeds involved, was there any indication of a sonic boom.
  53. narrator
    someone who tells a story
    Moreover, narrator Robert Stack added in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the sudden changes in acceleration and deceleration would have been fatal to one or more human pilots.
  54. episode
    a happening that is distinctive in a series of events
    Moreover, narrator Robert Stack added in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the sudden changes in acceleration and deceleration would have been fatal to one or more human pilots.
  55. mystery
    something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
    Moreover, narrator Robert Stack added in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the sudden changes in acceleration and deceleration would have been fatal to one or more human pilots.
  56. acceleration
    an increase in rate of change
    Moreover, narrator Robert Stack added in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the sudden changes in acceleration and deceleration would have been fatal to one or more human pilots.
  57. fatal
    bringing death
    Moreover, narrator Robert Stack added in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, the sudden changes in acceleration and deceleration would have been fatal to one or more human pilots.
  58. corroborate
    give evidence for
    During this time, ground witnesses broadly corroborate the information obtained by radar.
  59. completely
    with everything necessary
    They described seeing the smaller triangle completely disappear from sight at one point, while the larger triangle moved upwards very rapidly as the F-16s flew past.
  60. disappear
    become invisible or unnoticeable
    They described seeing the smaller triangle completely disappear from sight at one point, while the larger triangle moved upwards very rapidly as the F-16s flew past.
  61. sporadic
    recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances
    After 00:30 radar contact became much more sporadic and the final confirmed lock took place at 00:40.
  62. eventually
    after an unspecified period of time or a long delay
    Following several further unconfirmed contacts the F-16s eventually returned to base shortly after 01:00.
  63. provide
    give something useful or necessary to
    The final details of the sighting were provided by the members of the Wavre gendarmerie who had been sent to confirm the original report.
  64. original
    preceding all others in time
    The final details of the sighting were provided by the members of the Wavre gendarmerie who had been sent to confirm the original report.
  65. arrange
    put into a proper or systematic order
    They describe four lights now being arranged in a square formation, all making short jerky movements, before gradually losing their luminosity and disappearing in four separate directions at around 01:30.
  66. direction
    a line leading to a place or point
    They describe four lights now being arranged in a square formation, all making short jerky movements, before gradually losing their luminosity and disappearing in four separate directions at around 01:30.
Created on Sat Dec 29 21:07:36 EST 2012 (updated Sat Jan 25 11:58:47 EST 2014)

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