Centro Ufologico Nazionale
The Centro Ufologico Nazionale (CUN) is one of Italy's oldest and best-known civilian ufology organizations, which has been collecting, investigating and documenting UFO sightings since the 1960s.
The Centro Ufologico Nazionale (CUN) is one of Italy's oldest and best-known civilian ufology organizations. The organization was founded in the 1960s with the aim of collecting, organizing and investigating UFO sightings reported in Italy.
Activities
The CUN operates a network of volunteer researchers and members that receives and documents reports from the public in various regions of the country. The organization maintains case collections, conducts interviews with witnesses, and also seeks to examine physical traces, photographs or other evidence when these are available. The CUN also publishes publications and periodicals, and organizes conferences and lectures for those interested in the subject.
The organization defines itself as a research group with scientific aspirations and a methodical approach, which seeks to distinguish explainable phenomena (sightings of atmospheric, astronomical or technical origin) from cases that cannot currently be identified.
Its place in Italian ufology
The CUN is one of the longest-running Italian ufology associations and one with the largest membership, but it is not a state or official body: its operation is based entirely on civilian initiative, and it has no government or scientific academic backing. The Italian authorities do not maintain an official UFO investigation program, so the CUN and similar civilian organizations fill the role of case collection and public information in the country.