J Allen Hynek

Josef Allen Hynek (1910 - 1986), was a U.S. astronomer and ufologist; he served as scientific advisor to Project Blue Book 1952-1969.

When Hynek was hired by Project Blue Book, he reportedly first suspected UFO reports were made by various kooks and cranks, or by persons who had misidentified mundane objects. His opinion changed, however, when he noted that some unusual reports had come from persons familiar with aerial events, such as astronomers and aircraft pilots, both civilian and military. Hynek made no conclusion about UFOs, but thought some reports deserved further study.

His attiude was further changed after conducting an informal poll of his astronomer colleagues: A small, but in Hynek's opinion, signifigant number of astronomer had seen aerial objects they could not account for with established, mainstream science. Most of these astronomers had not widely shared their accounts for fear of ridicule, or of damage to their reputations or careers.

Hynek was distressed by what he regarded as the dismissive or arrogant attitude of many mainstream scientists towards UFO reports and witnessess. Perhaps Hynek's most famous statement is, "Ridicule is not part of the scientific method and people should not be taught that it is." [1] (http://www.llresearch.org/library/secrets.htm)

Hynek developed the Close encounter scale to better catalogue various UFO reports.

External Links

• FBI File on Dr. J. Allen Hynek (http://www.cohenufo.org/Hynek/hynk_fbi.htm)
• J. Allen Hynek: The Pied Piper of Ufology? (http://www.mimufon.org/1970%20articles/JAllenHynek_Pied_Piper.htm)
• Interview With J. Allen Hynek (http://www.cohenufo.org/Hynek/hynk1975ridpath.htm)
• Close Encounter with Dr. J. Allen Hynek (http://www.cohenufo.org/Hynek/hynk_stacy.htm)
• J. Allen Hynek at UFOMind (http://www.cohenufo.org/Hynek/hynk_ufomnd.htm)

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