SkyUnknown

What UFOs turn out to be

Satellites and Starlink trains mistaken for UFOs

A satellite looks like a point of light crossing the sky in a few minutes, in a straight line, without blinking, then vanishing abruptly as it enters the Earth's shadow. They are mostly seen in the two hours after sunset or before sunrise.

Since 2019, Starlink launches have produced "trains": dozens of satellites in a line, evenly spaced, passing overhead shortly after reaching orbit. Spectacular, they have triggered waves of reports worldwide. Our live sky map shows which satellites are visible at any moment.

SkyUnknown lists 98 UFO sightings explained as one or more satellites, from 1981 to 2026, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES) for 93 cases and Aeronautica Militare (Italie) for 5. The busiest year was 2015, with 12 cases.

cases
98
unidentified
0
period
1981–2026
sources
2
Map of the cases

Notable cases

The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.

Other explanations

Sightings by decade

1
1980s2
1990s1
2000s51
2010s43
2020s

By country

All sightings

DatePlaceStatus
April 7, 2026Burgnac · Haute-VienneExplained
April 7, 2026Vernoil-le-Fourrier · Maine-et-LoireExplained
March 26, 2026Ouraisk - UarrExplained
March 3, 2026Saint-Dizier · Haute-MarneExplained
January 12, 2026PapeeteExplained
October 15, 2025Pino TorineseProbably explained
October 9, 2025Colomiers · Haute-GaronneExplained
October 3, 2025Saint-Paul · La RéunionExplained
September 28, 2025Borgo PiaveProbably explained
September 1, 2025Belle-Isle-en-Terre · Côtes-d'ArmorProbably explained
August 30, 2025Metz · MoselleProbably explained
July 31, 2025Satellites — NationalExplained
July 17, 2025La Haie-Fouassière · Loire-AtlantiqueProbably explained
May 17, 2025Couetron-au-Perche · Lot-et-GaronneProbably explained
May 17, 2025Tournefeuille · Haute-GaronneProbably explained
February 15, 2025MazzarinoProbably explained
January 14, 2025Jonzieux · LoireExplained
December 15, 2024Petite-Île · La RéunionExplained
November 26, 2024Gaujan · GersExplained
August 4, 2024Morey · Saône-et-LoireExplained
December 13, 2023ErevanExplained
December 2, 2023La Charité-sur-Loire · NièvreProbably explained
November 12, 2023MexicoExplained
November 6, 2023MonastirExplained
October 24, 2023St-Jacques-de-CompostelleExplained
September 1, 2023LimaExplained
August 12, 2023Cuxac-d'Aude · AudeExplained
June 22, 2023Pierrelatte · DrômeExplained
May 31, 2023Anor · NordExplained
April 10, 2023KinshasaExplained
April 8, 2023AbidjanExplained
January 31, 2023AmmanExplained
August 20, 2022Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans · AinExplained
May 11, 2022Vernajoul · AriègeExplained
March 4, 2022Saultain · NordExplained
February 28, 2022Moye · Haute-SavoieExplained
September 6, 2021Saint-Pierre-d'Aurillac · GirondeExplained
May 6, 2021CaltanissettaProbably explained
May 6, 2021FirenzeProbably explained
March 27, 2021Brugny-Vaudancourt · MarneExplained
December 18, 2020Montmorency · Val-d'OiseExplained
August 26, 2020Malemort-sur-Corrèze · CorrèzeProbably explained
July 19, 2020Bernac-Debat · Hautes-PyrénéesExplained
December 1, 2019Soustons · LandesProbably explained
November 21, 2019Le Moule · GuadeloupeExplained
August 30, 2019Durbans · LotExplained
October 8, 2018La Bouëxière · Ille-et-VilaineExplained
August 18, 2018Gérardmer · VosgesExplained
August 13, 2018Saint-Thuriau · MorbihanExplained
August 11, 2018Limoux · AudeProbably explained
August 11, 2018Triplet de Satellites — NationalExplained
December 28, 2017Blois · Loir-et-CherProbably explained
August 21, 2017Vergèze · GardExplained
June 19, 2017Les Auxon · DoubsProbably explained
July 9, 2016Brion · Saône-et-LoireExplained
January 15, 2016Latillé · VienneProbably explained
October 14, 2015La Villedieu-du-Clain · VienneProbably explained
September 7, 2015La Petite-Verrière · Saône-et-LoireExplained
September 6, 2015Vienne-en-Val · LoiretProbably explained
August 29, 2015Moulins · AllierExplained
August 23, 2015Beuste · Pyrénées-AtlantiquesExplained
August 15, 2015Nîmes · GardExplained
July 21, 2015Brains · Loire-AtlantiqueProbably explained
July 12, 2015Saint-Thibéry · HéraultProbably explained
July 3, 2015Couëron · Loire-AtlantiqueExplained
July 1, 2015Gahard · Ille-et-VilaineExplained
June 25, 2015Nantes · Loire-AtlantiqueExplained
April 13, 2015Parçay-Meslay · Indre-et-LoireExplained
November 20, 2014Caluire-et-Cuire · RhôneProbably explained
September 21, 2014Meyrueis · LozèreExplained
August 31, 2014Ceyreste · Bouches-du-RhôneExplained
July 30, 2014Tours · Indre-et-LoireExplained
July 19, 2014Perles-et-Castelet · AriègeProbably explained
July 17, 2014Saint-Rémy-de-Provence · Bouches-du-RhôneProbably explained
June 13, 2014Cholet · Maine-et-LoireExplained
May 5, 2014Sainte-Marie · La RéunionExplained
April 25, 2014Saint-Pey-de-Castets · GirondeExplained
April 16, 2014Le Petit-Quevilly · Seine-MaritimeExplained
October 3, 2013Plélo · Côtes-d'ArmorProbably explained
August 31, 2013Chalmazel · LoireProbably explained
August 31, 2013Saint-Léger-aux-Bois · Seine-MaritimeExplained
August 30, 2013Paray-le-Monial · Saône-et-LoireProbably explained
August 19, 2013Montfermeil · Seine-Saint-DenisExplained
August 13, 2013Villerupt · Meurthe-et-MoselleExplained
August 8, 2013Barbaste · Lot-et-GaronneProbably explained
August 4, 2013Nissan-lez-Enserune · HéraultExplained
July 25, 2013Saint-Malo · Ille-et-VilaineProbably explained
February 17, 2013Brest · FinistèreExplained
August 8, 2012Challans · VendéeProbably explained
July 8, 2012Saint-Julien-du-Sault · YonneProbably explained
May 12, 2012Saint-Maixent-sur-Vie · VendéeExplained
August 4, 2011Cugnaux · Haute-GaronneProbably explained
March 23, 2011Meyrignac-l'Église · CorrèzeProbably explained
June 3, 2010Mordelles · Ille-et-VilaineExplained
September 13, 2007Remiremont · VosgesProbably explained
March 17, 1997Mauguio (34) 17.03.1997 T1Probably explained
February 22, 1995Levernois · Côte-d'OrProbably explained
January 15, 1981Perpignan · Pyrénées-OrientalesProbably explained
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The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method