Rod (optical phenomenon)

Most optical analyses to date have concluded that the images are insects moving across the frame as the photo is being captured, although cryptozoologists and ufologists claim that they are paranormal in nature.

The insect captured on image a number of times, while propelling itself forward, gives the illusion of a single elongated rod-like body, with bulges.

Getting no satisfactory answer to the phenomenon, curious scientists at the facility decided that they would try to solve the mystery by attempting to catch these airborne creatures.

Subsequent investigations proved that the appearance of flying rods on video was an optical illusion created by the slower recording speed of the camera.

[3] After attending a lecture by Jose Escamilla, UFO investigator Robert Sheaffer wrote that "some of his 'rods' were obviously insects zipping across the field at a high angular rate" and others appeared to be "appendages" which were birds' wings blurred by the camera exposure.