Project Blue Book File on Tremonton Film, Utah, 1952

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Appendix II

Plotting a Set of Flight Paths from Single Frame Position Plots, with no Reference Points

1. In a case like this, it would be highly desirable if the movement of these objects could be recorded with a stationary motion picture camera. Position plots could be superimposed by observing proper registry of frame edges to indicate the speed and direction of object flight paths.

2. However, it apparently was necessary in this case to follow the formation of objects, to keep them all in view. Therefore no position guide for registering the position plots is available, since no fixed points appear in the sky. Other principles must be used instead.

3. It is stated that the general drift of the entire formation was to the west. A later sequence shows a single object, which had reversed course, moving from left to right in the camera's view. It can therefore be supposed that plotted paths should show a drift from right to left.

4. This is one guide to be used. Another is that position plots should be superimposed without any rotation, since the frames were plotted without rotation. This assumes that the camera was not rotated; but merely moved in combined horizontal and vertical motions.

5. Another general guide is that most of the objects should appear to move in smooth, continuous paths. Several plots, at least 4, should be superimposed on a viewing table, and should be shifted until all or nearly all paths are smooth and show reasonably uniform motion. This compound plot can be transferred to a single sheet, and further plots can be added in the same manner.

6. Figure II was prepared in just this way, using the same 50 diameter enlargement as in Figure I. It will be noted that the final positions of two objects in the central trio are missing. They became so faint that they were lost; no further plotting of this sequence was tried.

DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 923007