UFO Reports from the UK 

UFOs over Dorset

[ Updated: 04/07/2008 ]

27 June 2008 - Gillngham

26 August 2007 - Dorset

"On Sunday the 26th August, six of us were sitting out side looking for Mars as the sky was clear and the moon was nearly full visibility was good. It was about 9.30 ~10pm ish..

We were looking over to Bulbarrow Hill in Dorset, and saw two red/orange objects that at first we thought were stars, but realised they were moving slowly together. They were not flashing like an aircraft and seemed to be quite large, the second one stopped and suddenly became really bright and then it seemed to pour out an orange light underneath it which looked like molten metal which left a long line of light the object then went down slowly and straight in the same direction as the light.

We thought that it was a plane and that it was in trouble and crashing, we ran inside to go up to the attic to get a better view. We could still see the light of the object hovering it then started to climb in height again straight up the path it came down, it then flew to the other object and both just vanished - didn't fly off into the distance just completely vanished.

I can't find an explanation for what we saw, but we certainly spent the couple of hours trying to work it out. Did anyone else see this on the same night?"

A very strange sighting, with no immediately rational explanation.

18 July 2007 - Blandford

"At approx 2pm I was driving from Shaftesbury to Weymouth when I was just getting into Blandford, I said to my girlfriend "Look at that what is it?"

It was a dark silver oval object falling from the sky it was huge, It was approx 5 miles away in the distance, It was falling from over 1000 ft and fast in a straight line, there must be some explanation for this? We lost sight of the object after passing a few trees, the object had gone."

23 June 2007 - Wareham

"My wife and I witnessed at least six objects at 23:10 hrs yesterday. They seemed to have multi coloured lights (red, green) and were travelling from west to east. After going behind a small amount of cloud they simply vanished. They was no noise from any engines.

A bit odd but thought you might want to know."

26 April 2005 - East Knoyle, Dorset

From 'Edward':

"On 26th April 2005, I was sat admiring the view on Zig-Zag hill looking towards East Knoyle (in Dorset) as I pulled up; me and my mate noticed big orange orbs in the sky, about 40 at once descending from far in the clouds to the ground. Still more were coming as the bottom ones went out of sight. The top ones were seen in an area approx. side to side [of about] a mile. The speed varied; some would go down real fast, hover, go up, and decedent most would just go straight down. It would go for about 10 to 15 mins, and then stop for 5 to 10 mins, and then carry on.

This went on for about two hours and didn't stop."

The area in question for the sighting is in the direction of Salisbury Plain, with its various military areas and ranges; as yet we have no confirmation of exercises on the night in question. Given the sheer number of lights and their apparent visibility, it is of course curious that there were not many other reports from the Wiltshire and Dorset areas, although this of course is one of the enduring ambiguities of UFO sightings. I think the reader will agree that there is a certain parallel or similarity between this sighting and the infamous Phoenix Lights case.

7 August 2004 - Langton Herring, Dorset

"Hi there, I'd like to report a sighting that I had last weekend. I'm sure there's a rational explanation but I can't figure it out - I'd be grateful for your comments or suggestions. I have been interested in astronomy since I was a child, and I also have a passing interest in aircraft - not substantial but enough to recognise recent military and passenger aircraft (I live within a few miles of the famous Farnborough Air Show). I have always looked up in the sky for extended periods and I am familiar with comets, meteors, satellites and night flying aircraft.

The sighting occurred on Saturday 7 August 2004, between Midnight and 3am, at Langton Herring in Dorset, situated about a mile from the sea at the Chesil Beach. It is interesting to note that a sighting (12 August - Weymouth, Dorset - A Parachutist?), reported on your pages, was also made in the vicinity of the Chesil Beach. I was camping with a group of friends - five of us. We were up late and I was showing others how to recognise satellites and constellations. We were all looking out for shooting stars as the Perseids meter shower is due at maximum in a few days. Despite the fact that the day had been hot and humid, the night air had a chill and the sky was exceptionally clear. The Magellanic Clouds were clearly visible and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) had naked eye visibility (a rare treat for us 'townies'!!!)

On several occasions we observed lights in the sky that we could not explain (and are difficult to explain..) The lights were bright, instantaneous flashes of white light, rather like a single flash of strobe lighting. I would estimate the apparent brightness at around magnitude -2/3. The flashes seemed to be 'semi-random'. Some occurred repeatedly (2 flashes -pause 2 flashes, etc.) while others flashed only once or twice with no recognisable pattern. Some appeared to 'travel'. Descriptions of the apparent movement is difficult given the 'randomness' of the flashes. They did not occur very often. Overall we made about 5 'sightings' (although again, this could be confused by the nature of the sighting).

We observed many satellites and a few planes and meteors that night (and an impressive exploding meteor on the night of the 8th). These flashes were different. There was no noise of any kind, and the first one we saw had the apparent movement and velocity similar to a satellite. However, the nature of pulses of light is not indicative of satellites, which, although varying in brightness as they pass are constantly visible until they fade. The flashes of light were not like those of passing aircraft. Even at high altitude it is easy to discern the multiple flashes of a single plane (and it's movement - even when dark).

The only theory I have is that they were indeed satellites, but they were moving in such a way, revolving perhaps, so that the reflective parts were visible only instantaneously. I doubt this theory for two main reasons:

1. My understanding is that satellites are visible because of the reflection of sunlight from solar panels. As solar panels are usually (if not always) constantly facing the sun to generate power, they could not be revolving.

2. Even if they were revolving, the light emitted, a bright white colour of high magnitude, is not synonymous with Satellites which are usually faint except when passing through a point of high reflection, which I estimate would last at least five seconds.

I have no other ideas. I note that you have investigated previous sightings listed on your website. I hope therefore that you will be able to offer a more plausible theory. I'd also be interested in hearing of any other reports you have had about similar sightings."

This is a well-observed report. The behaviour of flashes didn't obviously suggest sightings of Iridium communications satellites, and a check at at the GSOC database confirms that no Iridium's were visible from that location at all for that week.

12 August 1999 /2025 BST - Weymouth, Dorset - A Parachutist?

During a 'stunt driving' display at Weymouth stadium, B James  overheard two people comment on "Look, a microlight."

Brian followed their gaze, to see a very odd 'microlight'. 

The object was being viewed against the light of the setting sun, but was dense dark coloured all over.  It was basically oblong, but with rounded ends, and something was seen to be 'dangling' underneath.  It was at an approx height of 1000m, and perhaps 3km to the south, almost following the line of the Chesil Beach in the Bridport direction.  The object was not descending.  It remained at a constant height as it was lost to sight to the west after about 5 minutes. 

BJ was able to video the object, but was unable to get a clear sharp image at maximum zoom, due to the available light.  The footage is a bit inconclusive, even when viewed on a TV, as the image does not come sharp enough for clear identification.  The object most resembles a parachutist, but no aircraft were seen that 'it' could have come from, and the lack of descent is most unusual!  No 'fuselage' or motor of a normal microlight can be seen, and no sound was heard, but a PA system was playing music loud at the stadium, which could have masked a quite engine noise.  Canopy was wrong shape for a normal paraglider, and there was no obvious high ground for 'it' to have launched from, other than the (risky) rocky outcrops of Portland.

On viewing the footage, the only possible 'man-made' explanation would be that it was a powered paraglider, where the pilot wears the motor and propeller as a 'backpack'.

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