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Was the Sensor Recording Even a Real Object?

Some unresolved UAP recordings remain open because analysts cannot tell whether the signal shows an object, reflection or sensor error.

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On this page

  • Why some signatures cannot be attributed
  • Reflections, temperature differences and display errors
  • What additional footage can resolve
Preview for Was the Sensor Recording Even a Real Object?

Introduction

An unresolved unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) report does not necessarily establish that a camera or sensor recorded a real physical object. In some cases, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) concludes that the available evidence cannot even answer that basic question. Rather than identifying an aircraft, balloon or unknown craft, analysts may be left deciding whether the recorded signature represents a genuine object, a thermal reflection, an atmospheric temperature contrast, or a sensor artefact. This distinction is especially important in discussions of alleged UFO crashes. Before investigators can ask what an object was or where it came from, they must first determine whether a physical object was present at all. Official AARO case summaries repeatedly show that insufficient sensor data can prevent that determination, leaving a report unresolved without implying an extraordinary explanation.[AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO UAP Imagery…

Sensor Unknowns illustration 1

Why some signatures cannot be attributed

Modern military sensors are designed for operational tasks such as surveillance, targeting and navigation rather than scientific investigation of unusual aerial events. They can produce images that appear compelling but lack the information needed to establish what the sensor actually detected.

Infrared systems, for example, measure differences in thermal radiation rather than producing ordinary photographs. A bright or dark patch in an infrared display does not automatically correspond to a discrete object. It may instead represent:

  • a genuine object emitting heat;
  • sunlight reflected from a surface;
  • reflected thermal radiation;
  • a natural temperature difference in clouds, air or terrain;
  • image-processing artefacts within the sensor itself.

Because these possibilities can produce similar visual signatures, analysts often require additional measurements before concluding that a physical object existed. AARO has published several unresolved cases where it explicitly states that the observed heat signature has characteristics consistent with a physical object but cannot determine whether the signature originated from an actual object or from another source.[AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO UAP Imagery…

This is a more limited conclusion than saying “the object is unidentified”. Instead, the uncertainty begins one step earlier: investigators cannot confidently establish that the recorded signal represents an object in physical space.

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Reflections, temperature differences and display errors

AARO’s published unresolved imagery provides a useful illustration of how analysts distinguish between uncertain detections and confirmed objects.

In multiple infrared cases from Africa (2022 and 2023) and Europe (2022), AARO states that the recordings show apparent thermal signatures with characteristics consistent with physical objects. However, it also concludes that the available information is insufficient to determine whether those signatures represent:

  • thermal emission from an actual object;
  • thermal reflection;
  • environmental heat differences; or
  • sensor display error.

Because the origin of the signature cannot be established, AARO also concludes that the available data cannot reliably evaluate the object’s apparent performance characteristics, such as speed or manoeuvring.[AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO UAP Imagery…

This approach reflects a cautious analytical principle. If investigators cannot determine what produced the image, they cannot reliably calculate how a supposed object moved. Apparent acceleration, sudden stops or unusual trajectories may simply arise because the displayed feature was never a discrete object in the first place.

The same reasoning has appeared in AARO’s explanations of previously discussed UAP videos. During Senate testimony, AARO Director Jon Kosloski described how one infrared recording initially appeared to show an object entering the water before re-emerging. Further analysis concluded that the apparent “transmedium” behaviour resulted from the infrared camera losing thermal contrast as the object passed over water with a similar temperature, creating an illusion rather than documenting entry into the sea.[News.com.au]news.com.auBlack object': Pentagon's wild UFO revelationJon T. Kosloski, head of the Pentagon's UFO investigation office, detailed several anomalous UFO sightings that remain unexplained during…

Sensor Unknowns illustration 2

Why a single video is often insufficient

A single sensor rarely provides enough information to resolve ambiguous imagery.

Important questions often remain unanswered:

  • How far away was the apparent target?
  • Was it being viewed directly or through atmospheric distortion?
  • Was the sensor changing zoom or tracking mode?
  • Did other instruments detect the same feature?
  • Did radar detect a corresponding object?
  • Were weather conditions capable of producing thermal gradients or reflections?

Without answers to those questions, even experienced analysts may be unable to determine whether a recorded signature corresponds to an aircraft, balloon, bird, atmospheric effect or imaging artefact.

This explains why AARO frequently distinguishes between unresolved and anomalous. An unresolved case may simply lack sufficient evidence to eliminate competing explanations rather than containing evidence for exotic technology.[AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO UAP Imagery…

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What additional evidence can resolve the uncertainty

The uncertainty surrounding these cases is often reduced not by finding a better explanation after the fact, but by obtaining more independent observations of the same event.

The most valuable forms of corroboration include:

  • simultaneous observations from multiple sensor types, such as infrared together with radar;
  • recordings from separate viewing angles that allow triangulation;
  • precise telemetry showing camera orientation and aircraft motion;
  • environmental measurements including weather, temperature profiles and wind;
  • calibrated timing and location metadata;
  • longer recordings that capture the object’s behaviour before and after the reported event.

With multiple independent measurements, investigators can determine whether different instruments are tracking the same physical object or whether only one sensor registered an unusual signature. Modern proposals for scientific UAP observation similarly emphasise multimodal sensor systems precisely because independent measurements help distinguish genuine objects from reflections, atmospheric effects and instrument artefacts.[arXiv]arxiv.orgThe Scientific Investigation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Using Multimodal Ground-Based ObservatoriesMay 29, 2023…Published: May 29, 2023

Sensor Unknowns illustration 3

What this means for alleged UFO crashes

Within discussions of alleged UFO crashes, these unresolved sensor cases illustrate an important analytical boundary. If investigators cannot first establish that a recording captured a physical object, the evidence cannot support stronger claims that an object crashed, was recovered or originated from an extraterrestrial source.

An unresolved infrared signature therefore represents an unresolved measurement problem, not evidence of an alien craft. AARO’s published assessments consistently separate these possibilities by stating when available data cannot distinguish between a physical object and alternative explanations such as reflections, environmental temperature differences or sensor display errors. That conservative approach preserves uncertainty rather than filling gaps in the evidence with speculative conclusions.[AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO UAP Imagery…

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Endnotes

1. Source: aaro.mil
Title: UAP Imagery
Link:https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/quot/

Source snippet

AARO UAP Imagery...

2. Source: aaro.mil
Link:https://www.aaro.mil/Next-AARO-Home-redesign/Next-Parent/Next-AARO-UAP-Imagery-Acc-Table/

Source snippet

AARO UAP Imagery Acc TableMay 8, 2026 — + Expand row details | | | PR-018, Unresolved UAP Report, Europe 2024 | PR-018, Unresolved UAP Re...

Published: May 8, 2026

3. Source: news.com.au
Title: ‘Black object’: Pentagon’s wild UFO revelation
Link:https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/very-anomalous-objects-pentagon-reveals-bizarre-ufo-sightings-under-investigation/news-story/a41d822643c8faf3a4ebce168b1d1f92

Source snippet

Jon T. Kosloski, head of the Pentagon's UFO investigation office, detailed several anomalous UFO sightings that remain [unexplained]({{ 'unexplained/' | relative_url }}) during...

4. Source: arxiv.org
Link:https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.18566

Source snippet

The Scientific Investigation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Using Multimodal Ground-Based ObservatoriesMay 29, 2023...

Published: May 29, 2023

5. Source: aaro.mil
Link:https://www.aaro.mil/Next-AARO-Home-redesign/Next-Parent/Next-UAP-Report-Documents/poster/dividLink/

Source snippet

AARO UAP Report DocumentsMay 8, 2026 — + Expand row details | 05/08/2026 | PR-048 | PR-048 | The United States Indo-Pacific Command submi...

Published: May 8, 2026

6. Source: aaro.mil
Link:https://www.aaro.mil/Next-AARO-Home-redesign/Next-Parent/Next-AARO-UAP-Imagery-Fixed-Table/

Additional References

7. Source: dvidshub.net
Title: Viewers should not interpret any
Link:https://www.dvidshub.net/video/962722/unresolved-uap-report-middle-east-2024

Source snippet

DVIDS - Video - Unresolved UAP Report: Middle East 2024May 16, 2025 — UNRESOLVED UAP REPORT: MIDDLE EAST 2024 05.16.2024 COURTESY VIDEO A...

Published: May 16, 2025

8. Source: youtube.com
Title: Is This Pyramid UFO just Bokeh?
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g256IPFoqMg

Source snippet

AARO UAP report physical object sensor artifact video DOD 109584439 UAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #2) Govermen...

9. Source: defense.gov
Link:https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3701297/dod-report-discounts-sightings-of-extraterrestrial-technology/

10. Source: youtube.com
Title: Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick Gives AARO Press Conference! (UFOs UAP)
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkfWt60oVpg

Source snippet

Senate UAP Hearing with Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick...

11. Source: dvidshub.net
Title: DVID S
Link:https://www.dvidshub.net/video/973045/pr-001-unresolved-uap-report-africa-2022

Source snippet

DVIDS - Video - PR-001 Unresolved UAP Report, Africa 2022August 7, 2025 — PR-001 UNRESOLVED UAP REPORT, AFRICA 2022 In 2022, the United S...

Published: August 7, 2025

12. Source: dvidshub.net
Title: DVID S
Link:https://www.dvidshub.net/video/973055/pr-003-unresolved-uap-report-africa-2023

Source snippet

DVIDS - Video - PR-003, Unresolved UAP Report, Africa 2023August 7, 2025 — PR-003, UNRESOLVED UAP REPORT, AFRICA 2023 01.01.2023 In 2023...

Published: August 7, 2025

13. Source: [uap-archive]({{ ‘uap-archive/’ | relative_url }}). org
Link:https://uap-archive.org/uap/learn/aaro-case-resolution-reports-overview/

14. Source: youtube.com
Title: Explained: GIMBAL UFO Video
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr1cfpos6vo

Source snippet

What I mean by Glare (vs. Flare, vs. UFO)...

15. Source: youtube.com
Title: Senate UAP Hearing with Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ot3UQBalwo

Source snippet

Explained: GIMBAL UFO Video - The IR Glare Hypothesis...

16. Source: youtube.com
Title: What I mean by Glare (vs. Flare, vs. UFO)
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Oeaot9eX0

Source snippet

Is This Pyramid UFO just Bokeh?...