List of reported UFO sightings

This is a list of notable reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related claims of close encounters or abductions.

Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a small number remain unexplained.

[2][3][4] UFOs have been referred to using a range of terms including the more specific "flying saucer" and the more general "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP).

[15] Gordon Cooper, one of the original Project Mercury astronauts, witnessed a type of metallic craft without wings flying over Germany in the 1950s.

Cooper sent a crew of James Bittick and Jack Gettys out to a dry lake bed to set up data-recording photography equipment.

Shapes reported as UFOs include orbs, triangles, other shapes, fireballs, discs, lights, eggs, cigars, changing shapes, rectangles, and diamonds, from most to least common. Full data is available at the linked image page.
Most commonly reported shapes in UFO sightings gathered by the National UFO Reporting Center Online Database ( NUFORC ) [ 1 ]