What UFOs turn out to be

The Moon mistaken for a UFO

When rising or setting, the Moon looks huge, orange or red, and can be distorted by the layers of air. A thin crescent half hidden by clouds or hills takes unexpected shapes.

Such reports are few but regular, especially when the Moon rises behind hills or between drifting clouds that make it seem to move.

SkyUnknown lists 41 UFO sightings explained as the Moon, from 1976 to 2026, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES). The busiest year was 1977, with 4 cases.