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9. Expert Opinion. The observations were examined by the Royal
Greenwich Observatory and a report of its findings is at Annex o.
The report acknowledged the uncertainties in tne estimates of
azimuth and elevation of the observations and could only provide a
best guess of the likely light source(s} as summarized below.
a. The Boston Police may have been looking at the planet
Venus which was exceptionally bright in the early morning sky
on 5 Oct, rising at 0209Z on a bearing slightly north of
east; this is consistent with the first Boston observation.
b. Based on measurements obtained from the police video,
the Skegness observations could also have been Venus. The
Observatory notes that when a bright star or planet is low in
the sky, even to elevation 200, it is quite common for it to
appear to show colours which are often described as flashing
or rotating. These characteristics and the report of the
first Skegness observer tend to favour the Venus theory.
c. The Observatory can offer no likely celestial
explanation for either sets of lights observed from the MV
CONOCOAST.
SUMMARY
.·
10. Following extensive investigation, it can be concluded that
the radar plot observed in a position at Boston was a permanent
radar echo; it was correctly assessed as such by CRC Neatishead at
the time and no further air defence related action taken. The
bright stationary lights observed from Boston and Skegness were
probably due to light from the planet Venus which began rising at
the time of the first observation; it was particularly bright and
could have appeared multicoloured and flashing to some observers.
No explanation can be offered for the two sets of lights observed
from MV CONOCOAST.
11. For completeness and further reference, various notes are
attached at Annex E, together with a list of organizations and
persons consulted in the course of this investigation. In
addition, abbreviated comment on the detail contained in Mr
Redmond's letter to Sofs are at Annex F. A copy of the video of
the Skegness lights, copied by Lincolnshire Police HQ, is
attached.
12. This report is the result of almost full time, painstaking
investigation over a period of a working days and, although all
the light phenomenae have not been conclusively explained,
research has not revealed evidence or admissions that alarming or
extraordinary events were being witnessed. It is likely that
similar detailed investigation into light phenomenae would produce