Military Image Shows Dark Object Near Reticle

A military system in the western United States captured a black-and-white image of a small, dark, round object near the reticle, with mountains in the background.

The operator couldn’t identify the object. The image was sent for review, but parts of it were redacted, and the mission report was not provided. All that remains is a partial image and a description of what it shows.

A Spot Near the Reticle

The image is grainy, and the mountains in the background are blurred. A reticle, showing where the system is aimed, appears at the center. The dark spot is just to the right of its center.

The image alone doesn’t reveal what the object was or what was happening around it. It contains no sharp details that could help identify it. The operator, who saw the image as part of their work, couldn’t determine what it showed either.

The Image Was Sent for Review

In late 2025, a U.S. military system captured the image. The FBI later sent a report about it to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The report included the image, but parts of it had been redacted before it was sent.

The mission report associated with the incident was not provided with the image. That leaves out context that might explain what the system was doing when the image was taken. The record does not say why the report was omitted or provide further details about the mission.

What We Still Don’t Know

The object remains unidentified, and the operator couldn’t determine what it was. The record also does not explain why the mission report was not provided. The date shown on the image is incorrect because the system’s clock had not been set; the record offers no conventional explanation for the object’s identity.

A dark spot remains on the screen, with an unclear background behind it. The missing parts of the image cannot be seen.