From Skeptic to Believer
Josef Allen Hynek was an American astronomer and professor who is best remembered for his UFO research. Hynek acted as a scientific advisor to the U.S. Air Force's UFO studies: Project Sign (1947–1949), Project Grudge (1949–1952), and Project Blue Book (1952–1969).
For decades, he took a skeptical stance, but his views changed over time. He later admitted that he had been tasked with debunking UFO reports, and he eventually became a vocal proponent of the idea that some UFO reports could not be explained by conventional science.
Close Encounters Classification
Hynek is famous for creating the "Close Encounter" classification system, which he introduced in his 1972 book, The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry. This system categorizes UFO sightings based on their proximity and interaction with the environment and witnesses.