FOREWORD

I guess the best place to start would be with the THE DRAKE EQUATION: which expresses the number of technological civilizations that might exist among the stars.

N = R * FP * NE * FL * FI * FC * L

N = number of advanced technical civilizations emitting detectable radio signals.
R = mean rate of star formation averaged over the lifetime of the galaxy.
FP = fraction of stars with planetary systems.
NE = mean number of planets per system with environments suitable for the origin of life.
FL = fraction of such planets on which life does develop.
FI = fraction of such planets on which intelligent life rises during the lifetime of the local sun.
FC = fraction of planets on which advanced technical civilizations rises.
L = lifetime of this technical civilization.

When explaining this equation, Mr. Science himself, Carl Sagan once said the formula means that at least 1 million of the 100 billion (yes, that's billion) stars in our Milky Way galaxy have planets which have developed advanced intelligent civilizations.

Now, if we consider the astronomical fact that there are over 10 billion (that's right -billion) galaxies in the universe, each holding at least another million solar systems, one may start to think that we may not be the only life in the universe.

If you tend to agree with this path of reasoning, the question now arises as to whether the technologies exist which would permit travel between solar systems and galaxies. This is were I see the debate about UFO phenomenon.

Just like any other debate, some say absolutely, some say definitely not and still others like myself sit somewhere inbetween. Usually, one side asks for proof and the other side tries to provide it. Usually, the proof is set aside as an explainable object, a natural atmospheric occurrence or something which requires more information yet is temporarily unexplainable. In the latter case, a request is then made for more proof and we start all over again. This cycle has gone on for decades.

What is proof of extraterrestrial life? Some say the government already has it. Others say God will provide it. Others need a saucer to land in their own backyard and still others say they know from experience and that this has happened to them personally.

I provide this UFO page as a(nother) kind of archive. I encourage people to read through that material which sounds interesting and decide for themselves, what exactly is needed to prove something like this may be true.

Comments, suggestions theories and general miscellaneous are encouraged and can be mailed to me. Enjoy!

      Dave Schmitz

Interesting Statistics

04/27/96

Number of visitors to Smitty's UFO Page today:

Military visitors: 56
Government visitors: 44

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