Video evidence
77 sensor clips · 226 min · 67 infrared · 57 with a tracked objectDepartment of Defense sensor footage, sampled into keyframes and analyzed. Images are clickable for zoom and navigation.
What the footage shows vs. what the reports claim
shape vocabulary, normalizedWritten reports are dominated by round / orb / disc descriptions; the footage is mostly unresolved points. At sensor range these targets span a few pixels. Reported shape derives from description, not from resolved imagery.
Isolating the target
26 of 77 clips yielded a trackable targetCamera artifacts are removed first. Anything pixel-locked across a clip — HUD text, the tracking gate, scale bars, timestamps, vignette, redaction boxes — is captured in a per-clip temporal-median plate and subtracted, leaving only content that moved between frames.
Each tile is the tracked target, centred and contrast-normalised (brightness inverted so every object reads bright). Where the object is sub-resolution, the sensor’s moving designator label can dominate the crop — itself a measure of how little is there.
Apparent path of the target across frames — a gimbal-relative proxy, not true velocity. Straightness 1.0 = clean linear track; near 0 = erratic. High erraticness can mean a real maneuver or an unstable lock on a sub-resolution target — a flag, not a measurement.
straightness · max turn angle · sorted linear → erratic
Shared-signature footage groups
2 groups of visually near-identical clipsThese clips are near-identical by perceptual hash — yet their objects differ. What they share is the framing, the FLIR sky gradient, and the exact same redaction-box layout: a common sensor platform and a uniform declassification process, not repeats of one event.
All clips
77 sensor clips · click to zoom & arrow through8 non-footage files are excluded here — they are audio recordings (a static logo over a NASA voice track), collected on the Audio page.
Bright white irregular cluster of structures or vehicles on ground; small crosshair/reticle visible in several tiles; cluster is the primary tracked feature with additional bright thermal returns scattered nearby
Small dark rectangular object visible at approximately mid-frame in each tile, consistent across all populated frames. Appears as a compact dark rectangle against a flat mottled gray surface (likely open terrain or water). A smaller secondary dark rectangular feature is visible below the primary object in most frames, possibly a shadow or secondary object.
A compact bright white object with green HUD line and yellow marker overlays is visible near center-left in the upper 5 tiles, appearing as a small high-contrast target against gray ground terrain with what appears to be coastal or rocky textured terrain. One tile (row 2, col 2) shows only a black background with green elliptical tracking rings and a small green dot — no ground imagery visible, consistent with sensor blackout or tracker operating in isolation. The third tile of row 2 (col 3) shows a mottled gray overcast sky with a pink/magenta elliptical tracking ring and minimal ground detail.
No discrete aerial or anomalous object present. Scene depicts a dense urban or semi-urban area from near-nadir: road grid, building rooftop blocks with varied thermal signatures, open lots, and vehicle-like returns. No trackable object distinct from ground structure is identifiable.
Small dark square or rectangular object visible slightly left of center in each frame, persistent and consistent across all 14 populated tiles. Object is low-contrast and dark against a lighter gray hazy sky background. A small cyan crosshair dot accompanies the object in most frames. Background transitions from hazy overcast with cloud layers in early tiles to a uniformly bright diffuse haze; a large bright diffuse region (possible cloud mass or sensor bloom) is prominent in the bottom-row center tile.
Small dark rectangular or dash-shaped object visible near center of each frame, persistent across all populated tiles. A small cyan crosshair/dot accompanies the object in most frames. Early rows (rows 1-2) show coastal cliff terrain with a large water body below; mid and later rows (rows 3-6) show the scene transitioning to an increasingly bright diffuse elliptical glow centered on the reticle — consistent with a thermal bloom or bright thermal source — while featureless flat gray background (water surface) occupies the lower frame portions. The dark small object remains at or near the crosshair throughout.
Small dark rectangular object visible just below the crosshair reticle in most tiles. In row 1 tiles, the background is visible-light grayscale sky with cumulus clouds; a sub-inset visible-color image showing bright white clouds appears embedded in rows 1 and 4. In rows 2-4 the dominant feature is a large diffuse circular white glow centered on the crosshair, consistent with a sensor bloom or intense thermal source, with the small dark object persistent at center. A small red-orange dot is visible in multiple tiles in the upper quadrant, possibly a secondary tracked point or targeting indicator. Row 4 last tile shows a solid blue upper half — likely a color sensor artifact or channel bleed. Final row (row 5) shows two tiles with a cloudy sky scene and diagonal contrail-like lines, before the remaining slots go blank.
small bright or faintly warm-toned point-like object visible near tracking reticles; in some frames appears as a small speck at or near the lower tracking gate center
No discrete airborne or anomalous object identified. Scene shows an aerial FLIR nadir view of a compound or residential area with buildings, roads, trees, and open ground. Small magenta or pink dot visible near center of several frames, consistent with a HUD cursor or target designation marker rather than a physical airborne object.
No discrete airborne or anomalous object identified. Scene shows a nadir FLIR view of a compound or residential area with buildings, roads, open ground, and tree lines. Small magenta or pink HUD marker dot visible near center-lower area of each populated tile. No object distinct from ground structures is trackable as airborne.
Large bright orange-red irregular blob visible in the upper-center-right area of each row-1 tile (5 tiles). The object is a rounded, irregular shape with high thermal saturation rendered in false-color red-orange against a FLIR grayscale ground scene showing building rooftops and roads. The blob is large relative to surrounding structures. In row 2 (3 populated tiles) the orange-red blob is absent; the scene shows only rooftops and open ground without a prominent thermal anomaly.
A diffuse, roughly circular darker region centered in each tile against a lighter gray textured background, creating a prominent vignette-like appearance. A very small dark square marker is visible near frame center in several tiles in rows 2-3. In row 5, three tiles (columns 2-4) each contain a distinct bright white rectangular patch in the lower-center of the frame, with a finely textured surface — anomalous relative to surrounding background. The large circular dark region is consistent and persistent across all populated tiles.
Small dark object visible in tile 1 of row 1 against a gray sky — appears as a compact dark shape with possible structural detail suggesting an aircraft. In tiles 2-4 of row 1, a small bright white compact object is visible in the upper-center of the frame against a gray sky with prominent white cloud formations; the object appears consistent and compact across these tiles, consistent with a small airborne vehicle or reflective object. Row 2 tiles (3 populated) show a dramatic scene change to coastal terrain — cliffs, beach, and coastal settlement viewed from above; no airborne object is discernible in row 2 tiles. Cyan crosshair HUD reticle present throughout all tiles.
A small object is intermittently visible in the narrow unredacted strips of each tile. In row 1 tile 1, a distinct dark multi-part shape is visible — resembles a small aircraft or rotary-wing silhouette with structural detail. In row 1 tile 3, a bright white blob is visible, consistent with the same object under different gain settings. In most other tiles, a small bright or white point is visible on or near the central horizontal green HUD tracking line. Green crosshair reticle, red dot markers, and a yellow rectangular indicator box are persistent HUD elements across all tiles.
Small dark vessel-like object centered in each frame; appears as a compact upright structure with a thermal wake or wash radiating outward beneath it on a lighter sea surface
Bright point-source object with a prominent starburst/asterisk diffraction pattern of multiple radiating spikes, set against a mid-gray IR sky background. A bright diagonal linear streak — consistent with a contrail or exhaust plume — crosses each frame diagonally. The starburst object migrates from left-of-center in early tiles to right-of-center in later tiles.
Aerial oblique FLIR view of a coastal or riverine area showing structures, vehicles, and a road/waterway boundary. Two small colored HUD markers — one red/orange dot and one blue dot — are overlaid at fixed screen positions across all tiles, indicating tracked points of interest or designated target markers. No discrete airborne anomalous object is present; tracked points are ground-level.
No discrete airborne or anomalous object clearly resolved. Tiles show an IR sky with dynamic cloud structures against a mid-gray background. In two tiles (row 1, columns 4-5) a faint circular tracking reticle with a small text label appears in the upper-right quadrant, indicating the sensor had an active tracking gate but the associated target is not resolved or has left the FOV. Remaining tiles show only clouds and empty sky with a small plus-sign crosshair.
Large roughly semicircular or dome-shaped bright IR bloom occupying the lower half to two-thirds of every tile. The bloom is smooth and featureless with a diffuse warm center and gradient edges; no resolved structural detail. Upper portion of each frame is darker mid-gray, suggesting cooler ambient background (sky). Bloom is the dominant persistent feature across all 30 tiles.
Large diffuse bright IR blob dominates most tiles with substantial morphological variation across frames. In the top-left tile a distinct heart- or bilobed-shaped bright patch with a faint dark speck at its center is visible. In one bottom-row tile a thin dark elongated rod- or bar-shaped object appears diagonally in the lower frame — the most discrete resolved object in the sheet — and is absent in the immediately adjacent tile. Other tiles show varying bloom intensities with occasional faint internal structure. Small blue HUD crosshair dot visible in several tiles.
Multiple distinct elements across the sequence. Top-left tile: large surface vessel in high contrast (bright white hull, dark superstructure) viewed from aerial perspective over dark water. Second tile row-1, col-1: entirely white/saturated frame, consistent with a sensor NUC (non-uniformity correction) event. Subsequent tiles: vessel has left FOV and a large dark circular vortex or annular wake structure dominates the bright water surface — a distinct dark depression consistent with turbulent surface disturbance. Small red dot HUD tracking marker visible near upper-center-left consistently. Small teal/cyan rectangular tracking gate appears in later rows centered on a small diffuse target in the wake zone.
Small bright elliptical object held within a red circular tracking gate at or near reticle center in each tile; object appears as a faint bright core with low contrast against a mid-gray FLIR sky background
A small, bright white irregular object is consistently present near the upper-center of each tile against a smooth mid-gray FLIR background. The object appears angular or multi-faceted — its silhouette suggests a compact, roughly L-shaped or asymmetric rigid form. It is brighter than the background indicating a warm or reflective surface. Corner bracket tracking reticles (thin gray L-shaped corner marks) are visible in each tile, framing the object in a tracking gate.
A small red circular tracking reticle with four-arm crosshairs is centered in each tile against a nearly uniform mid-gray FLIR background. Directly below the crosshair intersection is a small dark elongated vertical mark, potentially a small tracked target or sensor artifact. White alphanumeric text (appears to be '0 0' or a similar pair of characters) is displayed above the crosshair center in most tiles. The first tile (row 1, col 1) has a noticeably lighter background, possibly a scene transition frame.
Multiple offshore wind turbines are visible as dark cross-shaped structures (three-blade rotor plus tower silhouette) against a lighter IR sea surface background. The turbines appear in groups of varying density. A small bright magenta/pink pixel HUD tracking marker is present near the top-center of most tiles. In one tile (row 4, col 5) a distinct small dark compact object appears separately near the horizon that does not match the turbine cross-shape — this is the most anomalous discrete object in the sheet, though it may be a turbine at an oblique angle.
A very low-light nighttime visible or image-intensified scene. The background is very dark (near-black with a faint green-dark tonal cast). Multiple small bright point-like objects are scattered across the dark sky — the brightest appears near the top-center area of most tiles. A faint plus-sign crosshair reticle is visible at the center of tiles throughout the sequence. In one tile in approximately row 3, a short horizontal bright streak is present, consistent with a fast-moving object or aircraft at distance. One tile (row 6, col 1) is entirely white/saturated (NUC or sensor polarity event), and an adjacent tile shows a large diffuse bright area.
No discrete airborne or anomalous object visible. Scene shows an aerial FLIR view of a coastline or terrain boundary — a diagonal transition from a dark upper-left region (possibly sky or high-elevation terrain) to a lighter mid-gray lower region showing land surface features including a river channel or road network, flat terrain, and faint infrastructure. A small cyan/teal HUD crosshair dot is visible near the center-left of each tile.
A dark rectangular vessel with a bright white wake or heat signature trailing behind it, consistent with a surface watercraft viewed from above. A smaller dark object is visible near the vessel in some frames.
A small bright point-source or orb-like object visible in multiple frames against a dark or cloud-textured background. In later frames, a larger aircraft wing or fuselage edge appears in the lower rows, possibly the observing platform. The bright object is high-contrast and relatively small.
Multiple small bright or dark point-like objects visible across frames against a water surface background. One frame shows a dark silhouette of what appears to be a vessel or object near the top edge. In the lower rows, a diffuse bright glow or heat bloom is visible on the water surface. Small dotted objects are scattered across several frames.
An aerial overhead view of ground structures — rectangular building rooftops and what appear to be vehicles or objects on the ground. A bright white elongated object (possibly a vehicle) is visible near the center-right of most frames. Small bright point-like objects (possibly personnel or warm objects) visible near the bright vehicle.
A small, bright point-source or slightly elongated object consistently visible across nearly all frames. In several frames the object appears to have a short bright tail or streak extending from it. The object is high-contrast against a dark or mid-gray background. In some frames a diffuse bright cloud-like mass is also visible adjacent to the object.
A faint, diffuse background of cloudy or hazy atmosphere dominates most frames. In row 5 (of 6), two tiles show a small bright point-source object enclosed within a blue rectangular tracking gate/box, indicating the sensor is locked onto a target. The object is very low contrast and small relative to the frame. In the bottom row, a faint diffuse glow or mass is visible in the lower portion of some tiles.
A dark, solid circular or near-circular object (appearing as a black disc against a lighter cloud background) visible in multiple tiles across the upper two rows. The object is relatively large compared to the frame and has sharp, well-defined edges. In the bottom rows, the same cloud scene is shown but the object is not visible, corresponding to an 'Original Video' label section.
No distinct object of interest visible in the majority of frames. Most tiles show a near-featureless dark gray field with a faint crosshair at center. In the bottom-right corner tiles, a textured surface (possibly water or terrain) becomes visible with a diffuse bright patch. Row 1 shows a noisy/grainy lighter background suggesting possible cloud or sky transition. No tracked object is discernible.
Multiple surface vessels visible across frames: a large illuminated ship with bright superstructure lights in top row; smaller patrol-style boats/craft at mid-frame distances; one frame shows a close-up overhead view of a vessel with crew and wake; a helicopter or rotary-wing aircraft with rotor blades visible in one tile; diffuse bright light bloom in lower rows suggesting a spotlight or searchlight on water surface
Small bright white point or spot object visible in nearly every tile, appearing just above or near the blue crosshair reticle. Object is small, roughly circular, and high-contrast against the dark textured water surface below. Object position relative to frame shifts slightly across tiles. In later rows the object appears slightly larger or brighter. Final tile (bottom-right) shows a large bright diffuse area possibly indicating close approach or target illumination.
Aerial overhead view of rural/agricultural terrain with field patterns, roads, tree lines, and sparse structures. In several tiles a bright white glowing rectangular or square object is visible on or near the ground surface — particularly prominent in tile row 1 col 3 (large bright diffuse bloom), row 2 col 2 (bright white rectangle in field), and rows 5-6 (rectangular bright structures with defined edges visible on ground, possibly buildings or enclosures). Some tiles show only small bright point sources scattered across fields. Two tiles appear nearly black with only faint crosshair markers visible.
Small bright orange/red point objects visible in multiple tiles, appearing against a sky filled with large cumulus clouds. The points are very small and high-contrast against the gray sky background. Typically one or two such points appear per tile near center or slightly off-center. In later tiles the scene transitions to show a water surface below the clouds, and at least one tile shows a small white elongated speck that may be the tracked object at greater range.
A diffuse, dark roughly circular or ovoid area is visible at center-right of each tile, set against a lighter gray textured background consistent with high-altitude cloud or atmospheric haze. The dark region has irregular soft edges and appears consistent across all tiles, suggesting a persistent object or thermal anomaly being tracked. A very small bright blue crosshair/reticle dot is visible near the top of each tile.
Multiple distinct objects and scenes across tiles. First tile (top-left) shows a visible-spectrum color image of a naval vessel (gray warship/coast guard ship) on blue-green ocean water. Remaining tiles show what appears to be an electro-optical/visible sensor view of blue sky with a whitish or light-colored diffuse elongated shape near center frame — possibly a balloon, blimp, or other aerial object — tracked across multiple tiles. Some tiles transition to a grayscale infrared mode. Small orange/amber point objects visible in grayscale tiles. In later rows, smaller bright white point sources appear against teal-blue background. Crosshair/reticle visible in many tiles.
In the upper three rows, a distinct dark irregularly-shaped object — roughly teardrop or pear-shaped with ragged edges — is visible floating on or just above a water surface. The object is high-contrast (dark against lighter water texture) and maintains consistent shape across tiles, appearing to be a physical object on the water. In row 2 col 1, a bright white near-vertical streak is also visible (possibly a mast or pole). In rows 4-6, the object disappears and frames show only open water surface with diffuse light reflections and crosshair reticles; one tile shows a thin bright vertical streak (mast/pole) at right edge.
A diffuse, rounded bright or dark mass is present near center of each tile throughout the contact sheet. In early rows the object appears as a brighter diffuse glow or bloom against a mid-gray background. In rows 3-6, the diffuse mass becomes darker relative to the surrounding lighter background — appearing as a dark rounded oval or cloud-like form that fills a significant portion of the frame center. Several tiles in rows 1-2 show small distinct bright white point sources or clusters near the crosshair, which may be the primary tracked object at higher zoom level. The background texture is consistent with atmospheric haze or high-altitude cloud viewed in infrared.
bright white high-intensity point or small compact object near reticle crosshair, evolving from dim point to intense bloom across later tiles; small cyan/blue color artifact consistently visible near or at the object across multiple frames
small bright white point or compact object visible near reticle crosshair in multiple tiles; cyan tracking crosshair consistently present; in row 2 tile 1 two distinct small bright points are visible; object is low contrast and small relative to frame
small bright white point or compact high-intensity object visible near reticle crosshair in multiple tiles, particularly in rows 4-6; appears as a tight bright spot against the gray hazy background
small orange/amber colored point or dot visible throughout most tiles, typically near or below the reticle crosshair; in earlier tiles a bright diffuse white oval bloom is also visible in upper-center of frame; orange dot is small and consistent across frames
bright white elongated vessel-shaped object visible in most frames; appears as a surface ship or large watercraft on open water; object is small relative to frame but bright due to thermal contrast; in rows 4-5 the object appears more spread out or as a wake pattern; rows 3-4 middle frames show object nearly absent or very faint at center
small bright white diamond or square tracking reticle marker with crosshair lines visible in every frame; a small faint dot or object is visible at or near the tracking gate center in multiple frames; in lower row frames a small distinct bright dot appears below the tracking gate in some tiles, possibly a separate tracked object or sensor artifact
small bright white dot with a small square tracking box around it visible in the upper half of each tile; a second smaller dot or tracking square visible in the lower half of each tile; both objects are small, low-contrast point sources against a uniform grey background; fourth tile (column 4) shows a significantly brighter/whiter upper background suggesting sensor polarity inversion or white-hot mode switch
small bright dot or crosshair-centered point object visible in mid-sequence frames against a large bright irregular region; appears as a small luminous point near the reticle center
bright point light source near the horizon with visible light rays or lens flare radiating upward and outward; a small intense white point is visible at the base of the light spread near the horizon line
a roughly elliptical to diamond-shaped bright thermal object centered in the tracking reticle across all active frames; object increases dramatically in brightness in the final frame of the last row, becoming an intense white bloom; a square tracking gate surrounds the object in most frames
a small, solid black square object visible in the mid-frame region of many tiles; appears as a compact dark square against the lighter gray sky background; a small cyan/teal dot is also intermittently visible near the left side of several frames, possibly a sensor artifact or secondary object marker
a bright elongated linear streak (contrail or wake) visible in the first tile of row 1; subsequent frames show only scattered small point artifacts in sky; a small crosshair is visible in the second tile of row 2 with no clearly defined object at center
a small cyan/teal crosshair or plus-sign marker is visible near the center of nearly every frame; in the later rows the crosshair appears without a distinct object at its center against a uniform gray background; in one tile (row 3, tile 5) a small dark streak or elongated object is visible to the right of the crosshair; small scattered white point artifacts visible in several frames
a small bright white point object visible near the upper-right area of the frame, slightly right of the crosshair center; object is consistently present in most tiles as a distinct bright spot against the textured gray surface background
a structured mechanical object with a rectangular body, visible legs or struts extending below, a cylindrical or disc-shaped base component, and what appears to be a vertical mast or antenna element; the object is well-resolved with discernible internal structure; it appears as a bright white/light-gray object against the darker sky and a large dark circular vignette shadow; alongside the structured object, a large soft dark circular region (approximately half the frame width) is visible in most tiles
small dark object visible in early frames near reticle crosshair; appears as a compact dark spot, low contrast against gray sky background; object becomes less distinct in later frames
a surface vessel (boat/ship) that progressively resolves from a blurry large thermal mass in early frames to a clearly defined vessel with bright white superstructure, dark hull, and visible wake; vessel appears to be a medium-sized working boat or patrol craft
no discrete tracked object visible; frames show aerial surveillance of ground terrain including fields, roads, tree lines, and a populated settlement
multiple bright white high-thermal objects consistent with vehicles on a road network; objects appear as rectangular or boxy bright-white shapes against darker ground terrain; multiple units visible in convoy-like arrangement along a curved road
one or more bright white vehicle-sized objects (likely trucks or large vehicles) visible in multiple frames near a road or path through wooded terrain; vehicles appear as rectangular bright-white thermal signatures
no discrete tracked object visible; sequence depicts a wide-area aerial survey transitioning from urban/suburban terrain to arid mountain terrain to open sky
no discrete tracked object clearly identifiable; frames show a featureless infrared sky or cloud layer with subtle texture; faint small blue crosshair dots visible in most tiles
no discrete tracked object visible; frames show cloud cover over ground terrain with partial breaks revealing urban or structured ground below
Small dim point-like or compact object visible in several frames, at times enclosed within a blue circular tracking gate/reticle; low contrast against the grayscale infrared background
No distinct tracked object visible; small cyan crosshair/cursor markers visible in multiple tiles but no discernible target return