14 DAY TRIAL // In late December, images posted by the science team operating the NASA Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) showed what appeared to be a triangular Unidentified Flying Object. The American space agency is now demonstrating that the UFO was just an artifact.
This mission is designed to observe the Sun. It does so from two identical spacecraft, parked in special orbits on either side of the Sun. When data from both probes are combined, they produce a view of the entire solar surface, hence the name.
As soon as the STEREO images and accompanying video were published on the mission's website, alien conspiracy theorists stepped up, and began providing a host of explanations for what they saw.
The image that elicited the most controversy is one taken by STEREO-B, showing the inner solar system – including Earth and Venus – and an interesting, triangular object that appeared to be heading this way. Many were quick to jump to conclusions, NASA says.
The American space agency was again accused of trying to cover up the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. NASA inadvertently fueled speculations when it updated the STEREO website to include newer images, archiving the troublesome photos. But this is a routine operation, officials explain.
However, a basic analysis of the object in relation to the basic laws of physics should tell any reasonable mind that a cover-up did not occur, Space reports. As obvious in the image to the left, the object appears to be remarkably large, by scale comparison with Earth and Venus.
The thing is, this is not the first time when someone observes this type of artifacts in STEREO data. Usually, the science team behind the observatory does not reply to claims of the spacecraft having discovered alien spaceships, but this time they posted a short statement on the mission's website.
“The answer lies on the exact opposite side of the image. At the same time as this strange-looking feature starts being visible, the very bright planet Venus enters the [telescopic camera's] field-of-view from the lower left,” they say.
Also, the fact that Venus and the mysterious triangle remain in opposition as they move through STEREO-B's field-of-view is no coincidence, either. “The strange-looking geometrical 'object' is actually an internal reflection of the planet Venus within the telescope optics,” the team explains.
“This effect has been seen many times before,” they conclude.