On Feb 19, 3:41*pm, Doc wrote:
I'm limiting this to what seem like technically oriented
groups, not including UFO forums in an attempt to
avoid slobbering tirades from the tinfoil hat brigade.

I'm wondering why it is, in all the incidents of "UFO"
sightings, including some that have made the news,
any images that aren't obvious hoaxes (and many that
are) are always grainy, shaky, indistinct blobs
blurs, pinpoint lights etc.

Speed of object. Zooming in on something that is close to the "grain
size" of the recording medium.

...
Or do I have a mistaken notion of how powerful the
available optics are?

No. I suspect that much of the popular press "reports" seem to
immediately preceed a new SciFi movie, such as "Cloverfield".

The News stations show clear, distinct shots of the
fast-moving Space Shuttle when it's well into its
trajectory on launch days, I would guess from at least
as far if not farther than these objects are from the
cameras. The above link is an incident that occurred
over a major city and apparently caused quite a buzz.
*Nobody* there had good gear they could whip out to
take some pics?

Launch photographers were probably not available. The youtube video
shows a nighttime shot, that blooms badly from the adjacent "garage".
Such "string of pearls" lighting is normal here in Arridzona, where
approaching flights are directed along I-17.

I would think a major city has astronomy buffs and
universities who have fairly sophisticated gear already
set up to photograph distant objects.

10-60 miles is not distant. Many such devices you would call to serve
cannot focus that close, nor can they ncecssarily be aimed close to
the horizon, track high speed objects, etc.

Wouldn't capturing something at airliner altitude be quite
possible?

Graininess results.

I've seen UFOs. But I don't care if I convince someone of that, nor
whether or not they were of extra-terrestial origin. Not my job. I
got 15-20 seconds of amazement, and a friend right next to me that
could not see it. I consider it a gift.

Heckling welcomed. No aluminum foil hats here.

David A. Smith