Ufology is the study of other-worldly sightings. It is a term used to describe the research and analysis of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. Ufology is a branch of astronomy, and it is also sometimes referred to as exobiology or astrobiology. Ufology has been around since the 1940s, when reports of UFO sightings began to increase. The term was first coined by French engineer and ufologist Jacques Vallee in the 1960s. Ufology is a controversial field of study, with many people believing that UFOs are real and others believing they are nothing more than hoaxes.