UFO reports in the U.S.: where and when

This video maps more than 88,000 reports to the National UFO Reporting Center, collected over roughly 50 years through May 2023. It examines where reports cluster per person, how they relate to darkness and time of day, and why Washington—not Nevada or New Mexico—leads in reports per capita.

The analysis also looks at reports around 9 p.m., darker skies, sky lanterns and Starlink launches, then compares the patterns with government files, including Project Blue Book and Pentagon AARO reports. The reports are voluntary and unverified. Mapping them can show where people report seeing something, but does not confirm that a UFO was present or explain every report.