SUBJECT: BERLINER CLASSIFICATIONS                            FILE: UFO1568




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                BERLINER  SIGHTING  REPORT  CLASSIFICATIONS
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This is a two-part classification, with an escalating grade from one to ten
within each.  The "Strangeness Scale" expands on the HYNEK divisions, most
notably adding "Night Object" as distinguished from HYNEK's nocturnal light
and daylight disc; separating close encounters of the first kind into night
and daylight; dividing CE-2's into "ambiguous" (e.g. landing trace without an
aerial object report) and "unambiguous"; and separating CE-3's into observa-
tion only, occupant reaction and meaningful communication.

The BERLINER "Creditability Scale" ranks cases by the number and observation-
al expertise of the witness(es) or, as more highly rated, by the device to
verify the observation  (radar, still photo, movie/videotape and live TV).

Preliminary evaluations rely on the BERLINER gradings to determine the nature
of the event as described by the witness(es).  See the March, 1987 issue of
the "Journal" for Mr. Berliner's explanation of this grading method.

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BERLINER - __________

Strangeness Scale:                        Creditability Scale:
_________________                         ___________________

0 - Identified as a known object/         0 - Witness(es) lacking
    phenomenon or a report lacking            believability
    clear UFO content
                                          1 - Single average witness
1 - Night light, no apparent object
                                          2 - Multiple average witness
3 - Daylight object seen at a distance
                                          3 - Single exceptional witness
4 - Night light close encounter of
    the FIRST Kind.                       4 - Multiple exceptional witnesses

5 - Daylight CE-I                         5 - Radar/visual observation

6 - Ambiguous CE-II                       6 - Still photo(s) by amateur

7 - Unambiguous CE-II                     7 - Still photo(s) by professional

8 - CE-III                                8 - Movie/videotape by amateur

9 - CE-III with occupant reaction         9 - Movie/videotape by professional
    to witness.
                                         10 - Live television
10 - CE-III with meaningful
    communication.

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