Overview
- Researchers with the VASCO project analyzed more than 106,000 single-exposure transients on Palomar Observatory plates from 1949–1957 across 2,718 observation days.
- Transient events were 45% more likely within one day of an above‑ground nuclear detonation and 68% more likely the following day, based on the Scientific Reports study.
- Transient counts rose an average of 8.5% for each additional UAP report, and days with both a test and reports showed more than double the usual flashes.
- A PASP analysis found about a one‑third deficit of flashes in Earth’s shadow, a signature consistent with short solar reflections from flat, highly reflective objects in high orbit.
- The PASP paper also highlighted linear groupings of flashes, including a notable case on July 27, 1952, and the authors stress correlation does not establish causation and that plate defects are unlikely to explain the clustering.