Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena Vol. 1 No. 2

This document is the March 1980 issue (Vol. 1, No. 2) of the 'Journal of Transient Aerial Phenomena,' published by the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA). The journal serves as a platform for serious, research-oriented investigation into UFOs and related phenomena, moving away from sensationalism. It features reports on the First London International UFO Congress, where a Provisional International Committee for UFO Research (PICUFOR) was established to standardize terminology and data processing. A significant portion of the journal is dedicated to the 'Livingston' case, a close encounter in Scotland involving Robert Taylor, a forester who reported a dome-shaped object and smaller 'mine-like' devices that left physical traces in the ground and caused him to lose consciousness. The journal also includes technical discussions on the use of photomultipliers to 'fingerprint' UFO light, the application of low-cost computing for UFO data analysis, and an atmospheric perspective on UFOs, suggesting that some sightings may be linked to temperature inversions and ball lightning. The publication emphasizes the need for a scientific discipline in UFO research, advocating for the use of standardized data formats and international cooperation to move beyond anecdotal reporting.