What to Do If You See a UFO: A Step-by-Step Guide

Editorial note: This guide is about careful documentation and safety. It does not assume an unusual object is extraterrestrial.

First, stay safe

If you see something unusual in the sky, do not drive distracted, trespass, point lasers, fly a drone toward it, or enter restricted areas. If there is an immediate aviation, fire, crash, or public safety concern, contact local emergency services or the appropriate local authority. Most sightings are not emergencies, but safety comes before curiosity.

Record the basics

Write down the time, date, location, direction you were facing, estimated elevation, weather, cloud cover, and how long the object was visible. A short note made during the sighting is usually better than a polished memory written days later.

Use landmarks in your video. A dot in a blank sky is hard to evaluate. A dot moving behind a building edge, tree line, hill, or horizon gives reviewers scale and direction. If you zoom in, also record a wide shot.

Keep original files

Do not rely only on social media uploads. Platforms compress video and strip metadata. Keep the original file from your phone or camera, and if possible back it up before editing. If there were multiple witnesses, ask them to preserve their original files too.

Rule out common causes

• Aircraft landing lights can appear to hover when flying toward you.
• Satellites and satellite trains can look strange, especially near twilight.
• Venus, Jupiter, and bright stars are frequent mistaken identities.
• Balloons, drones, lanterns, kites, and reflections can all produce convincing videos.
• Camera autofocus, rolling shutter, lens flare, and digital zoom can create false movement or shapes.

Where to report

AARO currently says military and Department of War civilian personnel should use official command or service reporting channels, while civilian pilots are encouraged to report UAP sightings to air traffic control. AARO also states that a public reporting mechanism will be announced when available. For ordinary civilian sightings, independent databases can preserve a report, but they are not the same as official verification.

What makes a report useful

The best reports are specific, boring, and complete. Include what changed your mind, what explanations you considered, and what you could not check. Avoid adding claims the evidence does not show. "I saw a silent orange light moving north for 40 seconds" is more useful than "I saw an alien craft."

Sources and further reading

• AARO: Submit a Report
• AARO FAQ topics
• NASA UAP independent study update