Have you seen a UFO? Researcher wants to hear from you.

Adelaide-based scientific researcher Keith Basterfield is calling out for Pilbara residents who have had a personal UFO sighting to participate in his new research project.

After more than 25 years of experience documenting UFO sightings across the country, Mr Basterfield has now turned his attention to a yearlong research project in regional WA.

“I’ve always been fascinated with astronomy and the possibility of life outside of earth,” he said.

“Back in the 1980’s I started interviewing people around the county and ended up writing a book which catalogued several hundred sightings from around the country.

“Twenty years later, I wanted to focus on regional areas; there is a lack of research around WA in particular.”

Mr Basterfield said he had already found several interesting reports out of the North West near Exmouth.

“There was an interesting report that came out of the North West cape at the US military base in Exmouth,” he said,

“On an afternoon with clear blue sky a couple of US navy personnel reported independently a sighting of a big black sphere which was hovering over the base for several minutes before it took off at high speed.

“Another interesting case happened near Exmouth at the RAAF base, where personnel were setting up a training exercise and saw an unusual light which hovered above them for several minutes and cut off communications with aircraft above.”

Mr Basterfield said to this day the two incidents remain a mystery.

“In 9 out of 10 un-investigated reports, when I look at them I can find a conventional explanation,” he said.

“People often mistake satellites, planets, lights, stars and aircraft for UFO’s.

“I browse websites and electronics databases belonging to UFO groups around Australia and the world to identify the sightings.

“But every now and then you get a case that has no explanation and that’s what I am most interested in....it’s a bit of a detective story I suppose.”

Mr Basterfield welcomes corrections and additions to his catalogue of sightings and can be contacted via keithbasterfield@yahoo.com.au or 04 222 78 103.

For more information on research, please visit his blog at http://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com .