An unidentified flying object could be anything from a bird to a plastic bag to a bona-fide alien spacecraft. Until we can tell what that weird thing up in the sky is, habit dictates that we excitedly call it a "UFO."

Let's not kid ourselves - usually we're pretty good at labeling what we're seeing, so if we can't tell, we assume that the strange glint up there isn't a T.V. satellite, but a pod full of little green men. What should you do if your eyes lead you to wonder? The seven most important things to keep in mind follow.

1) During the event, keep communication to a minimum. Don't talk to anyone around you. Whether you're seeing one or many lights in the sky, with our without a geometric arrangement, or something metallic moving erratically in daylight, don't say anything about it to anyone around you. Feel free to point and wave to get other people's attention, or call out a "look at that," but don't describe what you see aloud.

Don't listen to anyone, either. This point couples with the first. If the people around you are describing or discussing what they see, try to tune them out. Their words alone could affect whether or not you perceive windows in a craft, or how many lights you can count. You want to try to keep your memory as accurate as possible.

It is unnerving but true that no matter how educated, sober, intelligent and honest the members of a group are, each person is capable of constructing false memories about not only UFO sightings, but any supernatural, super-weird, or unexpected event they witness simultaneously. This is why, after robberies, witnesses are encouraged not to communicate with one another: it is likely to foil the accuracy of individual accounts.

2) Stay calm, especially if in a group. If you can't make yourself feel calm (which is likely, if you believe you're witnessing an extremely rare or special event), at least act calm, and give your brain reign before your feelings. Remember that "UFO" stands for "Unidentified Flying Object," not "alien spacecraft." All you know, as you look at the weird stuff in the sky, is that you can't be sure what it is. Don't allow that fact alone to convince you you're seeing aliens. After all, meteors, helium balloons and experimental military aircraft do exist.

Excited groups of people, especially when excited about extraordinary events, can develop a mob mentality, convincing one another to panic or behave rashly. Louder members can convince quieter members to believe

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