The Bonilla Observation of 1883: First UFO Photographs or Comet Fragments?

In the annals of UFO history, few cases are as historically significant yet scientifically contested as the 1883 observations made by Mexican astronomer José Árbol y Bonilla. This event, which occurred nearly 70 years before the term “flying saucer” entered popular lexicon, is widely considered to represent the first photographic documentation of unidentified flying objects. The Bonilla observation presents a fascinating case study in how astronomical phenomena can be interpreted through different lenses—from extraterrestrial visitation to purely natural explanations—and how historical context shapes our understanding of unexplained aerial phenomena.

Historical Background and Context

José Árbol y Bonilla (February 5, 1853–1920) was a Mexican astronomer, engineer, and astrophotographer whose scientific career was marked by remarkable achievements. Born in Ciudad de Zacatecas, Mexico, Bonilla studied topographical engineering in his hometown before receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Escuela de Minas in Mexico City in 1873¹. Demonstrating exceptional intelligence, he completed the three-year civil engineering program in just one year, earning the Premio al Mérito (Award of Merit) from President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in 1875¹.

After graduating, Bonilla returned to Zacatecas and taught at the García Literary Institute while developing his scientific interests. In 1879, seeking to expand his knowledge of celestial photography, he traveled to Paris to study at the Paris Astronomical Observatory, where he also became a member of the Flammarion Scientific Society¹. This European training would prove crucial to his later astronomical work.

Upon returning to Mexico, Bonilla played a pivotal role in establishing the Astronomical Observatory in the State of Zacatecas, which opened on December 6, 1882²¹. This facility, the first major astronomical observatory in Mexico outside the capital, represented significant scientific progress for the region. France contributed to this advancement by donating the observatory’s first telescope in 1882, initially intended to observe the transit of Venus across the sun that year³.

The Observation Event

On August 12, 1883, while preparing his telescope for solar studies at the Zacatecas Observatory, Bonilla noticed something extraordinary: objects that appeared to be partially blocking the Sun²⁴. Intrigued by this unexpected phenomenon, he dedicated the next 48 hours to meticulously documenting what he observed using the collodion photographic process, a relatively advanced technique for that era²⁵.

During this period, Bonilla captured 447 photographs of these mysterious objects traversing the solar disk²⁶. In his detailed notes, which would prove valuable for future researchers, he described the objects as having a “fuzzy” or “misty” nature, often with “dark tails” trailing behind them²⁵. He observed that these objects often moved in formation, “passing in groups of fifteen to twenty at regular intervals”⁷, and according to some accounts, “those elongated objects passed two by two above the solar disk”⁸.

The sheer number of objects—447 documented over two days—makes this case particularly noteworthy. Bonilla attempted to alert other observatories in Mexico City and Puebla about this phenomenon, but interestingly, they reported observing nothing unusual⁷, a detail that would later contribute to scientific theories about the objects’ proximity to Earth.

Publication and Initial Reception

Despite the extraordinary nature of his observations, Bonilla’s discovery did not receive immediate recognition from the scientific community in Mexico. Disappointed by this reception, he sent his photographs and findings to the French astronomy journal L’Astronomie⁸, founded and edited by the renowned physicist Camille Flammarion.

The journal published Bonilla’s observations and photographs in its January 1, 1886 edition²⁵⁸, approximately three years after the actual event. This publication brought international attention to Bonilla’s work, though the editorial team could not reach a definitive conclusion about what the objects might be. Flammarion himself suggested that Bonilla might have misperceived birds, insects, or dust particles in front of his telescope as celestial phenomena²⁷.

Despite these reservations, the publication in a respected scientific journal represented a significant acknowledgment of Bonilla’s meticulous documentation, if not his interpretation of the events.

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Scientific Analysis and Theories

The Comet Hypothesis

For more than a century, the Bonilla observation remained an intriguing footnote in astronomical history until October 2011, when researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico proposed a compelling scientific explanation. In a paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, astronomers Hector Javier Durand Manterola, Maria de la Paz Ramos Lara, and Guadalupe Cordero suggested that what Bonilla had observed were actually fragments of a comet that had broken up very close to Earth⁹.

The researchers based their hypothesis on several key elements from Bonilla’s documentation. First, the description of objects as “fuzzy” or “misty” with “dark tails” closely matches the appearance of cometary fragments. Second, Bonilla had precisely recorded the time it took for individual objects to cross the sun’s disk, which allowed modern researchers to calculate their approximate distance from Earth—estimated at around 8,000 kilometers, or about 5,000 miles⁹. Some calculations even suggested a maximum distance of roughly 80,000 kilometers, approximately one-fifth the distance to the Moon⁴.

This proximity could explain why observatories in Mexico City and Puebla failed to detect the objects. The researchers attributed this to the parallax effect—at such close distances, the objects would only be visible crossing the sun from specific geographical locations⁴⁹. This explanation elegantly accounts for one of the most puzzling aspects of the case.

The researchers concluded: “Our working hypothesis is that what Bonilla observed in 1883 was a highly fragmented comet, in an approach almost flush to the Earth’s surface”⁹. This near-miss by a fragmenting comet represents a significant astronomical event, regardless of its connection to UFO lore.

Alternative Explanations

Over the decades, other explanations have been proposed for the Bonilla observations. The initial assessment by Flammarion—that Bonilla had observed birds, insects, or dust particles—represents the most skeptical interpretation²⁷. Such misidentifications are certainly possible in astronomical observation, particularly in the 19th century when equipment was relatively primitive by modern standards.

Some researchers have also suggested that the objects might have been high-flying geese², though this explanation seems inadequate given the number of objects observed and their apparent formation patterns. Technical artifacts related to the photographic process itself have also been proposed, though Bonilla’s technical expertise in photography makes this less likely.

It’s worth noting that while the comet hypothesis has gained scientific credibility, it remains a theory rather than a definitively proven explanation. The limited technology of 1883 and the loss of original materials make conclusive verification challenging.

The UFO Connection and Cultural Impact

First UFO Photographs

The Bonilla observation holds a unique place in UFO history as what many consider the first photographic evidence of unidentified flying objects⁵¹⁰³. This designation is somewhat anachronistic, as the concept of “flying saucers” or “UFOs” wouldn’t emerge until the mid-20th century, nearly 70 years after Bonilla’s observations.

The photographs taken during the Bonilla observation have become important historical artifacts for UFO researchers and enthusiasts. Their significance stems not just from their antiquity but from the credibility of their source—a trained astronomer using scientific equipment rather than a casual observer⁵⁶.

UFO researcher J.J. Benítez has highlighted this case, noting ironically that skeptics often challenge the UFO phenomenon by asking, “If UFOs exist, why aren’t they seen and photographed by astronomers?”⁸ The Bonilla case directly contradicts this argument, though interpretations of what was actually photographed remain contested.

Integration into UFO Literature

The Bonilla observation has been incorporated into numerous books and articles on UFO phenomena. Notable examples include “Beyond Earth: Man’s Contact with UFOs” by Ralph and Judy Blum, and “Anatomy of a Phenomenon” by Jacques Vallee⁷, both significant works in UFO literature.

This integration into the UFO narrative illustrates how historical events can be recontextualized through contemporary frameworks. What Bonilla himself likely viewed as an unusual astronomical phenomenon has been reinterpreted through the lens of the extraterrestrial hypothesis that gained prominence in the latter half of the 20th century.

Critical Assessment of Evidence

Strengths of the Documentation

Several factors lend credibility to Bonilla’s observations themselves, regardless of their ultimate explanation:

Bonilla’s scientific credentials and training in astronomy and astrophotography at prestigious institutions in Mexico and Paris¹.
The systematic documentation of the phenomena, including detailed descriptions, precise timing, and photographic evidence²⁵.
Publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (L’Astronomie), indicating that the observations met at least basic standards of scientific documentation²⁵.
The consistency of the observations over a 48-hour period, suggesting a genuine phenomenon rather than a momentary illusion or equipment failure²⁶.

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Limitations and Uncertainties

Despite these strengths, several significant limitations affect our ability to reach definitive conclusions:

The photographic technology of 1883 was primitive by modern standards, and the collodion process used by Bonilla produced relatively low-quality “ink images”².
The original photographs and plates may have degraded over time, and it’s unclear how many have survived in their original form for modern analysis.
The lack of corroborating observations from other observatories creates an evidentiary gap, though this could potentially be explained by the parallax effect if the objects were indeed very close to Earth⁴⁹.
The 130+ years that have elapsed since the event make it difficult to recover additional contextual information that might clarify the nature of the observations.

Contemporary Relevance and Research Directions

Connection to Modern UAP Research

The Bonilla case offers interesting parallels to contemporary investigations of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). In recent years, there has been renewed scientific and governmental interest in documenting and explaining unusual aerial phenomena, exemplified by the 2023 Congressional hearing where former military intelligence officer David Grusch testified about UAP sightings¹¹.

While the technological context has changed dramatically since 1883, the fundamental scientific questions remain similar: How do we document, analyze, and explain unusual phenomena in our atmosphere or near-Earth space? How do we distinguish between natural phenomena, technological objects, optical illusions, and other potential explanations?

Potential for Further Research

Several avenues for further research could yield additional insights into the Bonilla observation:

Advanced digital analysis of any surviving original photographs or contemporary reproductions could potentially reveal details not visible to 19th-century observers.
Astronomical modeling of cometary behavior could test the plausibility of the fragmenting comet hypothesis proposed by Manterola and colleagues.
Historical research in Mexican and French archives might uncover additional documentation from Bonilla or his contemporaries that could provide context for the observations.
Comparative analysis with other reported astronomical anomalies from the same historical period could identify patterns or commonalities.
Examination of astronomical records for evidence of meteor showers or other phenomena in August 1883 that might corroborate the comet hypothesis.

Conclusion

The Bonilla observation of 1883 represents a fascinating intersection of astronomy, photography, and unexplained phenomena. As one of the earliest photographic records of unidentified objects in the sky, it holds historical significance regardless of the ultimate explanation for what was observed.

Current scientific consensus leans toward the explanation that Bonilla photographed fragments of a comet that had broken up very close to Earth⁴⁹³. This hypothesis accounts for many aspects of the observation, including the appearance of the objects, their behavior, and the lack of corroborating observations from other locations due to the parallax effect.

Nevertheless, the case remains significant in UFO studies as an early example of a credentialed scientist documenting and photographing unexplained aerial phenomena. It also illustrates how scientific understanding evolves over time—what was unexplainable in 1883 may have a natural explanation when viewed through the lens of modern astronomical knowledge.

The Bonilla observation serves as a reminder that the boundaries between the identified and unidentified can shift as science advances, and that phenomena once considered mysterious may eventually find explanation in natural processes previously not understood. At the same time, it highlights the value of meticulous documentation and scientific approaches to unusual phenomena, principles that remain relevant in contemporary UAP research.

For those interested in exploring this historical case further, additional resources include the original publication in L’Astronomie (1886), the 2011 research paper by Manterola et al., and various documentaries and discussions, such as the recent video “La Primera Fotografía OVNI en el mundo: José Bonilla” by the YouTube channel Fenomenos Inexplicables¹².

Whether interpreted as early evidence of extraterrestrial visitation or as a near-miss by a fragmenting comet that could have had catastrophic consequences for Earth, the Bonilla observation remains a compelling chapter in our ongoing efforts to understand unusual phenomena in our skies.

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Isaac Koi