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World desk4 min

How to Report a UFO Sighting and Document What You Observed

Record the time, location, direction, conditions, and what you observed, then choose the reporting route that fits your situation. U.S. public witnesses can use NUFORC; AARO’s form has narrower eligibility.
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In the United States, members of the public can submit a sighting to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), while AARO’s current form is limited to people with first-hand knowledge of U.S. government UAP programs or activities. Before choosing a route, write down what you saw, when and where you saw it, what remains uncertain, and whether any photos or video match your naked-eye view.

What to record while the details are fresh

Make a plain, chronological account as soon as practical. Describe observations before offering explanations, and label estimates as estimates. If you do not know an object’s distance, size, or altitude, say so rather than guessing.

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  • Time and duration: Record the date, local time, time zone if known, and how long the sighting lasted. Mark the time approximate if you are unsure.
  • Location and vantage point: Note the exact location or best available address or coordinates, and whether you were on land, on a boat, or in an aircraft.
  • Direction and movement: Record the direction you were facing, where the object appeared in the sky, its apparent direction of travel, and its elevation above the horizon if you can estimate that reliably.
  • What you observed: Describe the number of objects, shape, color, apparent brightness, motion, and other visible characteristics. Keep what you saw separate from interpretations about what it might have been.
  • Conditions and witnesses: Note clouds, haze, obstructions, lighting, and the number of witnesses. If useful, record where each witness was standing or sitting.
  • Evidence: Note whether you have photos, video, a sketch, or a map. Keep original files and avoid editing the only copy; record the recording device if you know it.

These details align with the fields on NUFORC’s current sighting report form, which also asks about uncertainty, privacy preferences, and optional contact details. The form says a map showing witness locations and viewing directions can help. Keep names and identifying contact information out of the public narrative, and review the form’s terms and privacy policy before submitting.

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Check ordinary explanations without overstating what you know

Before concluding that an observation remains unidentified, consider common possibilities such as Starlink satellite trains, rocket launches, or bright planets including Venus and Jupiter. NUFORC also cautions that lens flare and phone-camera focus effects can make a light appear to pulse or behave differently in a recording than it did to the naked eye. Its pre-submission guidance notes that something visible in an image but not to the unaided eye may be a camera artifact.

Describe the difference between the observation and the recording. For example: “I saw a steady light with my eyes; it appeared to pulse only on the phone playback.” If you checked for a likely explanation, say what you checked and what remained uncertain. “Unidentified” describes what you have not identified; it does not establish that the object was extraordinary.

Choose the reporting route that fits your situation

Situation Where to report What to know
Member of the public in the United States NUFORC’s online form A public sighting-report option run by a non-governmental organization; it is not a government authority or a guarantee that the report will be investigated.
Current or former U.S. government employee, service member, or contractor with first-hand knowledge of UAP-related government programs or activities AARO’s “Submit A Report” form For program-related first-hand knowledge dating back to 1945, not an ordinary public sighting. The form is an initial point of contact and is not intended for potentially sensitive or classified information.
Civilian pilot reporting an aviation observation Promptly notify air traffic control and follow applicable aviation procedures. FAA procedures route pilot reports and air-traffic observations to the National Tactical Security Operations Air Traffic Security Coordinator team on the Domestic Events Network.
Concern that activity may endanger life or property Local law enforcement; use the local emergency channel for an immediate emergency. This is the safety route identified in FAA guidance, not a substitute for an ordinary sighting report.

Public witnesses

Use the NUFORC form if you want to file a public sighting report. Fill it in as accurately as you can, including uncertainty where appropriate. Contact details are optional on the form; its privacy prompts distinguish the public narrative from information supplied for possible follow-up.

People with first-hand knowledge of government UAP programs

AARO’s form is for current or former U.S. government employees, service members, or contractor personnel who have first-hand knowledge of U.S. government programs or activities related to UAP. AARO says military and Department of War civilian personnel must follow their command or service reporting procedures for current operational UAP reporting. Do not use the restricted form to submit an ordinary public sighting.

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AARO says it will announce when a public reporting mechanism is available. Its public-facing website is the place to check for current information, since eligibility and reporting availability can change.

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Civilian pilots and aviation personnel

AARO encourages civilian pilots to report sightings promptly to air traffic control and says it receives UAP-related pilot reports from the FAA. FAA air-traffic procedure 4-7-4 requests the following information when available: the aircraft call sign or personnel location; the reporting aircraft’s location, altitude, and flight direction; the UAP’s position relative to the aircraft or observer; a general description, including known altitude, direction, or speed; and whether the object appeared on ATC radar. Follow current operational and safety procedures. See the FAA air-traffic procedure for UAP activity.

Immediate safety concerns

If there is concern that an aerial observation may endanger life or property, FAA guidance says to report it to local law enforcement. For an immediate emergency, use the local emergency channel.

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Witnesses outside the United States

The reporting routes described here are U.S.-specific. Check your national aviation or public-safety authority and any reputable local reporting organization rather than assuming that AARO or the FAA is the right channel in another country.

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What a careful report can and cannot establish

A detailed report preserves what a witness observed and gives others useful context for assessing it. It does not, by itself, verify an explanation or establish that an object was extraterrestrial. Preserve the distinction between direct observation, estimates, and later interpretation in both your notes and any submitted account.

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