The USAF set up a sizable UFO detection network in the 1980s, called GEODSS, the Ground-based_Electro-Optical_Deep_Space_Surveillance System. It's a set of pairs of large (40-inch) computerized telescopes which watch the sky automatically. The system has a star catalog and knows what should normally be visible. This includes noticing dark objects which occlude stars. It was intended to look for USSR satellites and space debris, but it can detect just about anything in near-Earth space. There are three active installations of this system. Most near-earth asteroid detections come from a former GEODSS station now operated by MIT's Lincoln Labs.

Unlike most astronomical telescopes, the GEODSS stations have a pair of telescopes some distance apart, under common control. They can range near-earth objects by parallax. One of the less-publicized features of the system is that one of the telescopes has a laser, so dark targets can be illuminated.

(In my aerospace days, the specs for this system crossed my desk. Our company had bid on the system, but lost.)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Space_Surveillan...

I'm betting you didn't read the linked article.

I'll have to ask about that the next time I'm at Lincoln Labs.

See http://www.ll.mit.edu/mission/space/linear/

The person interviewed in the article downplays the dangers of cults in general, without really talking about any of there activities aside from the films (which are the focal point of the article). Just saying kids, many cults are dangerous and many do a real good job seeming innocuous . Look up the BITE model, learn it and recognize it. https://www.freedomofmind.com/Info/BITE/bitemodel.php

I have a very simple test for 'cults' which is

'What happens if you try to leave'

Gwern's Notes on Brainwashing & 'Cults': http://lesswrong.com/lw/imu/notes_on_brainwashing_cults/

That article sounds like it was written by a member of that cult... going on about how warm and nurturing 'Ruth' appeared to be.

I think part of that is to answer questions like "why would some believe this maniac?"

Indeed, when I saw the title, I first assumed it'd be about the Heaven's Gate cult [1] (which ended up committing collective suicide)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_gro...

Unarius is located in El Cajon, CA I drive by there business building pretty often. In the yearly local mother goose parade this is the car they drive

http://media.lajollalight.com/img/photos/2014/12/11/Christma...

I watched a documentary about this group a couple of years ago. I don't remember the film itself very well, but the story is interesting and the videos that the group makes are something else! I'm pretty fascinated by cults in general, probably because I tend to not want to join things.

http://www.childrenofthestarsfilm.com/

I practically can't believe they're not just taking the piss and having a good belly laugh about it in private! =)

Does anybody see a place to watch these films? I would absolutely love to see these.

Here's something: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TphNS93ebqU

There's only an 11 minute documentary in the article which shows some clips of the films. Unfortunately.

Mandatory XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1235/

Reminds me of Sun Ra