EVERGREEN, Colo. -- UFO sightings are not unusual, especially in Colorado. The many cloud-free days provide clear skies and an opportunity for universe gazing.

"A UFO itself is just an object that folks are seeing in the sky that's unidentified. They can't explain it or they can't understand it in terms of why is it flying the way it is, the shape of it," James Carrion, the international director of MUFON.

The Mutual UFO Network is based in Colorado. Since 1969, members of the organization have researched unusual sightings around the world. "We have 800 certified investigators and 100 plus consultants with PhDs," said James Carrion, the international director of MUFON.

Gary Huffman is a MUFON investigator. He says his previous career as an investigator for the government makes him a thorough UFO investigator. "I collect the facts and basically try to verify the facts as the viewer presented. Once I have all of the information, I make a recommendation," said Huffman.

Huffman was sent to a home in Evergreen to research an early-morning sighting. A man said he saw an unusual object in the sky and he was able to capture a digital image from his deck.

"It was almost 5 a.m. At the time as I was checking out Venus. It was a dark, dark night," said Chad. He's asked to have his last name withheld.

"I couldn't help but see a triangular shape and lights on each corner. The craft was going up over the trees," said Chad.

Huffman recorded an interview with Chad, took detailed measurements of the angle of the object in the sky, and returned to the neighborhood to interview neighbors. His recommendation was that Chad had seen a UFO.

"We no longer are trying to determine if they are real or not. We know they're real. What we are trying to determine is what are they doing here and what kinds of things are going on," said Huffman.

'We don't want our minds to be made up. We want to take a look at all of the facts and do our homework and do a proper investigation and categorize what people see into one of three categories IFO, unknown object, or possibly a hoax," said Carrion.

Investigators contact local airports, military bases, and check weather data. They must make sure the object is not a weather balloon, a distorted view of a star, or a hoax.

"MUFON is a resource for the public. We're here to take a report and not to ridicule you or try to make you feel like you are crazy. Our primary mission to study this and get to the bottom of it," said Carrion.

That's the good news for Chad. "I just hope maybe they can give me some answer. Maybe I'm right or wrong. My eyes showed me something and my camera caught the same thing."

Astrobiology is the scientific search of alien life. Understanding UFOs is a necessary part of this field.

Dr. David Grinspoon is the curator of Astrobiology at Denver's Museum of Nature and Science. He's written many books and articles about the possibility of extra-terrestrial life.

"It's important for people to know that the scientific community have a lot of interest in this area," said Grinspoon. He believes scientists need to have an open mind when it comes to researching UFOs.

"It's a tricky balance. We need to be open, not dogmatically rule things out so that we miss something. At the same time you have to be skeptical because the history of this subject is just loaded with dead ends and false stories," said Grinspoon.

Grinspoon recommends that we keep this in mind as we look to the skies.

"Do not believe everything you see or hear. Be open minded but be critical as well and try to keep learning," said Grinspoon.

For more information about UFOs in Colorado visit one of the following links:

MUFON

"Lonely Planets"