Conspiracy theorists, it’s routine maintenance for the BoM radar

Strange things are popping up on the Darwin radar loop and conspiracy theorists are going wild. SEE HERE.

UPDATE: WITH UFO talk recently circulating town, Territorians of the Top End have started conspiring strange sightings on the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) rain radar.

A post in NT Field Naturalists’ Club Inc by Billy Ross (pictured) has sparked public debate about what could possibly be the strange lines running along the east coast of the Top End, like a long scar.

One commenter said, “It’s the invisible cloak concealing the secret US air force base”, another referred to the NT News front page from Tuesday April 19.

The website which is refreshed religiously by most Territorians – particularly when there’s a hint of rain around – is … unfortunately for all conspiracy theorists – up to nothing more than some innocent “routine maintenance”.

BoM senior forecaster Billy Lynch confirmed the Airport radar was being used as a backup for the usual Berrimah Radar.

“Because Darwin is using its backup radar, due to routine maintenance of the normal Berrimah radar, we’re seeing a few unnatural glitches on the rain radar,” Mr Lynch said.

He said this could sometimes result in “an inaccurate reading of anomalies on the rain radar”.’

Sorry to rain on your parade conspiracy theorists.

EARLIER: A DARWIN woman has shared an incredible image with the NT News that appears to show an unidentified flying object traversing the evening sky.

The image seems to show a saucer-shaped object, rather than a craft shaped like most regular aircraft.

The picture which has been shared with the NT News

A blow-up of the image shows the UFO in more detail

The photo in question, sent to the NT News for assessment, appears to show the UFO passing above a house.

According to the photographer, a further snap was taken five minutes later and captured a “totally different sky”.

The NT News shared the image with the Territory’s top UFO spotter, Alan Ferguson, for inspection.

Mr Ferguson said the photograph appeared legitimate, but he had some doubts about it.

“I went over it with my software zooming up … and what I see is no photoshop involved,” said Mr Ferguson, who has been monitoring the Territory’s skies for decades.

“The thing that bugs me is that most credible photos of UFOs – and I have seen hundreds sent to me by now – show that the air around it is disturbed.

“Only the true UFOs at times use electromagnetic pulses for propulsion, which disturb the air around it.”

The photographer, who shared the unusual image, said it had been taken in Beaumaris, Victoria.

Mr Ferguson has made headlines across the world in the past decade and has encountered several UFOs flying over his rural property in Acacia Hills.

He said UFO activity “had been quiet lately” but explained that “it was not our UFO spotting season” at the moment.

“(The season) is usually from May to October, mainly the Dry season,” he said.

“There has been a bit of activity around Edith River over the last few years.”

Mr Ferguson attracted global media attention in 2009 when he caught several flying objects on film in a story which made front page news in this paper.

He has since become an online sensation through his website — ufoterritory.com.au — where he has attracted thousands of loyal followers.

His stories have featured on news channels including the ABC and SBS, as well as Channel 7’s Sunrise program.

Mr Ferguson said he gets a “gut feeling” when UFOs are in the area.

“I’m not the only one,” he said.

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Originally published as Conspiracy theorists, it’s routine maintenance for the BoM radar