UFO sightings by period

UFO sightings in 2012: 181 reports

SkyUnknown lists 181 UFO sightings in 2012 worldwide, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES) for 176 cases and Aeronautica Militare (Italie) for 5.

Of the 181 cases with a conclusion from their source, 74% are explained (with certainty or probably), 20% lack the data to conclude, and 11 remain unidentified. The most frequent identified causes: sky lanterns (35); aircraft (18); meteors and fireballs (15).

Most frequently named places: Toulouse (3), Lachelle (2), Rentree Atmospherique (2), La Rochelle (2), and Grasse (2).

cases: 181
unidentified: 11
period: 2012
sources: 2

Map of the cases

Notable cases

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

Year by year, 2010 to 2019

All decades

Identified causes

For cases explained with certainty or probably.

By country

All sightings

Date	Place	Status	Identified cause
December 29, 2012	Tavel · Gard	Probably explained	Reflections and photo artefacts
December 28, 2012	Toulouse · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
December 24, 2012	Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx · Landes	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
December 17, 2012	Cranves-Sales · Haute-Savoie	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
December 14, 2012	Sainte-Anne · Guadeloupe	Insufficient data
December 13, 2012	Toulouse · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained	Re-entries
December 12, 2012	Carbonne · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
December 12, 2012	La Rochelle · Charente-Maritime	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
December 12, 2012	Perpignan · Pyrénées-Orientales	Explained	Fireworks and flares
December 5, 2012	La Rochelle · Charente-Maritime	Insufficient data
December 2, 2012	Sartrouville · Yvelines	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
December 1, 2012	Paris	Probably explained	Balloons
November 29, 2012	Rohaire · Eure-et-Loir	Insufficient data
November 25, 2012	Six-Fours-les-Plages · Var	Explained	Ground lights and lasers
November 22, 2012	Montivilliers · Seine-Maritime	Probably explained	Aircraft
November 18, 2012	Douarnenez · Finistère	Probably explained	Aircraft
November 12, 2012	Avignon · Vaucluse	Insufficient data
November 10, 2012	Feuquières-en-Vimeu · Somme	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
November 5, 2012	Le Bugue · Dordogne	Probably explained	Aircraft
November 2, 2012	Monaco	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
October 31, 2012	Tours · Indre-et-Loire	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
October 28, 2012	Marseille · Bouches-du-Rhône	Probably explained	Aircraft
October 24, 2012	Poisat · Isère	Insufficient data
October 13, 2012	Fitou · Aude	Insufficient data
October 9, 2012	Lieu-Saint-Amand · Nord	Insufficient data
October 9, 2012	Limoges · Haute-Vienne	Insufficient data
October 9, 2012	Mazères · Gironde	Probably explained	Aircraft
October 5, 2012	Dammartin-en-Goële · Seine-et-Marne	Insufficient data
October 1, 2012	Le Tampon · La Réunion	Probably explained
September 29, 2012	Boulogne-Billancourt · Hauts-de-Seine	Explained	Balloons
September 29, 2012	Montmarault · Allier	Explained	Sky lanterns
September 24, 2012	Avion · Pas-de-Calais	Explained
September 23, 2012	Sauxillanges · Puy-de-Dôme	Insufficient data
September 20, 2012	Rentree Atmospherique — National	Explained	Meteors and fireballs
September 17, 2012	Clermont-Ferrand · Puy-de-Dôme	Explained	Planets
September 17, 2012	Vern-sur-Seiche · Ille-et-Vilaine	Probably explained	Balloons
September 16, 2012	Athis-Mons · Essonne	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
September 16, 2012	Bons-en-Chablais · Haute-Savoie	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
September 16, 2012	Gondrecourt-le-Château · Meuse	Insufficient data
September 16, 2012	Le Tampon · La Réunion	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
September 15, 2012	Grasse · Alpes-Maritimes	Probably explained	Balloons
September 15, 2012	Villeurbanne · Rhône	Insufficient data
September 15, 2012	Yerres · Essonne	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
September 14, 2012	Baziège · Haute-Garonne	Insufficient data
September 12, 2012	Saussenac · Tarn	Probably explained	Aircraft
September 11, 2012	L'Île-d'Yeu · Vendée	Insufficient data
September 10, 2012	Meursanges · Côte-d'Or	Insufficient data
September 10, 2012	Mison · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence	Probably explained
September 9, 2012	Notre-Dame-de-Londres · Hérault	Probably explained
September 8, 2012	Charvieu-Chavagneux · Isère	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
September 7, 2012	Vertus · Marne	Probably explained	Aircraft
September 2, 2012	Gensac-sur-Garonne · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
September 2, 2012	Monétay-sur-Allier · Allier	Explained	Balloons
September 1, 2012	Fresse-sur-Moselle · Vosges	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
August 31, 2012	Chartres · Eure-et-Loir	Explained	Optical phenomena
August 29, 2012	Grasse · Alpes-Maritimes	Probably explained	Space station (ISS)
August 27, 2012	Montsalvy · Cantal	Insufficient data
August 26, 2012	Aouste-sur-Sye · Drôme	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
August 26, 2012	Saint-François · Guadeloupe	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
August 26, 2012	Saint-Hilaire · Aude	Explained	Meteors and fireballs
August 24, 2012	Bourgoin-Jallieu · Isère	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
August 23, 2012	Lyon · Rhône	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 23, 2012	Montecchio	Unexplained
August 23, 2012	Toulon · Var	Probably explained	Balloons
August 22, 2012	Brue-Auriac · Var	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 22, 2012	Claret · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 22, 2012	Draguignan · Var	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 20, 2012	Attenschwiller · Haut-Rhin	Probably explained	Re-entries
August 20, 2012	Mèze · Hérault	Probably explained
August 19, 2012	Châtenay-Malabry · Hauts-de-Seine	Probably explained	Aircraft
August 19, 2012	Montcresson · Loiret	Insufficient data
August 17, 2012	Narnhac · Cantal	Probably explained	Aircraft
August 15, 2012	Cava Dei Selci Marino	Unexplained
August 15, 2012	Thorigné-d'Anjou · Maine-et-Loire	Probably explained	Aircraft
August 14, 2012	Capens · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained
August 14, 2012	Méthamis · Vaucluse	Insufficient data
August 13, 2012	Gagny · Seine-Saint-Denis	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
August 13, 2012	Soustons · Landes	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
August 12, 2012	Bois-Guillaume · Seine-Maritime	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
August 11, 2012	Arles · Bouches-du-Rhône	Explained	Aircraft
August 9, 2012	Rioux · Charente-Maritime	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 8, 2012	Barberaz · Savoie	Insufficient data
August 8, 2012	Challans · Vendée	Probably explained	Satellites
August 8, 2012	Mortemart · Haute-Vienne	Probably explained	Balloons
August 8, 2012	Paris	Probably explained
August 8, 2012	Tilly-sur-Seulles · Calvados	Probably explained	Aircraft
August 8, 2012	Volx · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence	Unexplained
August 7, 2012	Chiesa In Valmalenco	Unexplained
August 7, 2012	Istres · Bouches-du-Rhône	Explained	Space station (ISS)
August 7, 2012	Menton · Alpes-Maritimes	Insufficient data
August 5, 2012	Èze · Alpes-Maritimes	Probably explained	Balloons
August 4, 2012	Archamps · Haute-Savoie	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
August 2, 2012	Valence · Tarn-et-Garonne	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
July 28, 2012	Carentan · Manche	Explained	Stars
July 27, 2012	Chaveroche · Corrèze	Explained	Space station (ISS)
July 27, 2012	Courbevoie · Hauts-de-Seine	Probably explained
July 27, 2012	Toury · Eure-et-Loir	Insufficient data
July 26, 2012	Fontenay-près-Vézelay · Yonne	Explained	Space station (ISS)
July 26, 2012	Montchaboud · Isère	Unexplained
July 26, 2012	Parisot · Tarn	Insufficient data
July 23, 2012	Marseillan · Hérault	Insufficient data
July 17, 2012	Montpellier · Hérault	Explained	Planets
July 14, 2012	Lachelle · Oise	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
July 14, 2012	Saint-André · Pyrénées-Orientales	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
July 11, 2012	Livron-sur-Drôme · Drôme	Probably explained	Re-entries
July 9, 2012	Saint-Maur-des-Fossés · Val-de-Marne	Probably explained	Balloons
July 8, 2012	Saint-Julien-du-Sault · Yonne	Probably explained	Satellites
July 7, 2012	Niedermodern · Bas-Rhin	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
July 6, 2012	Oraison · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence	Explained	Aircraft
July 5, 2012	Rémuzat · Drôme	Probably explained	Aircraft
July 4, 2012	Authezat · Puy-de-Dôme	Insufficient data
July 3, 2012	Lachelle · Oise	Insufficient data
July 1, 2012	Conflans-Sainte-Honorine · Yvelines	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
June 30, 2012	Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire · Loire-Atlantique	Explained	Sky lanterns
June 29, 2012	Maffliers · Val-d'Oise	Unexplained
June 24, 2012	Dommartin · Rhône	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
June 20, 2012	Paris	Explained	Space station (ISS)
June 17, 2012	La Colle-sur-Loup · Alpes-Maritimes	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
June 17, 2012	Lambersart · Nord	Unexplained
June 17, 2012	Mancieulles · Meurthe-et-Moselle	Explained	Sky lanterns
June 17, 2012	Souchez · Pas-de-Calais	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
June 4, 2012	Peigney · Haute-Marne	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
May 30, 2012	Coulaines · Sarthe	Probably explained	Balloons
May 30, 2012	Sézanne · Marne	Insufficient data
May 28, 2012	Doudeauville · Seine-Maritime	Explained	Meteors and fireballs
May 24, 2012	Dieppe · Seine-Maritime	Insufficient data
May 21, 2012	Choisy-le-Roi · Val-de-Marne	Unexplained
May 19, 2012	Payns · Aube	Explained	Sky lanterns
May 18, 2012	Villeneuve-lès-Avignon · Gard	Probably explained
May 12, 2012	Saint-Just-en-Chaussée · Oise	Probably explained
May 12, 2012	Saint-Maixent-sur-Vie · Vendée	Explained	Satellites
May 6, 2012	Pau · Pyrénées-Atlantiques	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
May 6, 2012	Tourlaville · Manche	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
May 5, 2012	Awala-Yalimapo · Guyane	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
April 30, 2012	Griesheim-près-Molsheim · Bas-Rhin	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
April 29, 2012	Moulins-lès-Metz · Moselle	Probably explained	Balloons
April 27, 2012	Mauguio · Hérault	Explained	Moon
April 19, 2012	Chaulgnes · Nièvre	Insufficient data
April 15, 2012	Meulan · Yvelines	Insufficient data
April 15, 2012	Rixheim · Haut-Rhin	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
April 13, 2012	Landévant · Morbihan	Explained	Space station (ISS)
April 12, 2012	Pleurtuit · Ille-et-Vilaine	Explained	Space station (ISS)
April 12, 2012	Saint-Jean-de-Liversay · Charente-Maritime	Insufficient data
April 8, 2012	Annemasse · Haute-Savoie	Explained	Planets
April 7, 2012	Salleboeuf · Gironde	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
April 4, 2012	Saint-Lô · Manche	Unexplained
April 2, 2012	Villers-sous-Saint-Leu · Oise	Explained	Planets
March 31, 2012	La Madeleine · Nord	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
March 26, 2012	Ploeren · Morbihan	Probably explained	Stars
March 24, 2012	Valras-Plage · Hérault	Probably explained	Re-entries
March 23, 2012	Paris	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
March 19, 2012	Toulouse · Haute-Garonne	Insufficient data
March 13, 2012	Ribérac · Dordogne	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
March 13, 2012	Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers · Hérault	Probably explained	Re-entries
March 12, 2012	Auenheim · Bas-Rhin	Insufficient data
March 7, 2012	Heiligenberg · Bas-Rhin	Explained	Aircraft
March 4, 2012	Libourne · Gironde	Probably explained	Reflections and photo artefacts
March 3, 2012	Sant’Anna Chioggia	Unexplained
March 1, 2012	Sainte-Julie · Ain	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
March 1, 2012	Sainte-Sigolène · Haute-Loire	Explained	Space station (ISS)
February 20, 2012	Belmont-sur-Rance · Aveyron	Explained	Planets
February 19, 2012	Arès · Gironde	Probably explained	Balloons
February 18, 2012	Bonnières · Oise	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
February 17, 2012	Carqueiranne · Var	Insufficient data
February 11, 2012	Lamentin · Guadeloupe	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
February 4, 2012	Toussus-le-Noble · Yvelines	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
February 3, 2012	Nancy · Meurthe-et-Moselle	Probably explained	Aircraft
February 2, 2012	Lonrai · Orne	Probably explained	Aircraft
January 31, 2012	Rentree Atmospherique	Probably explained	Meteors and fireballs
January 30, 2012	Le Temple-sur-Lot · Lot-et-Garonne	Probably explained	Space station (ISS)
January 27, 2012	Paris	Insufficient data
January 24, 2012	Rentree Atmospherique	Explained	Meteors and fireballs
January 24, 2012	Ribiers · Hautes-Alpes	Probably explained	Planets
January 20, 2012	La Saulce · Hautes-Alpes	Probably explained	Aircraft
January 18, 2012	La Teste-de-Buch · Gironde	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
January 14, 2012	Saint-Quentin · Aisne	Insufficient data
January 9, 2012	La Montagne · Loire-Atlantique	Probably explained	Ground lights and lasers
January 7, 2012	Roma	Unexplained
January 2, 2012	Les Clayes-sous-Bois · Yvelines	Insufficient data
January 1, 2012	Dounoux · Vosges	Probably explained	Sky lanterns
January 1, 2012	Léguevin · Haute-Garonne	Probably explained	Sky lanterns

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The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method

Notable cases

Montecchio

Cava Dei Selci Marino

Volx

Chiesa In Valmalenco

Montchaboud

Maffliers

Lambersart

Choisy-le-Roi

Saint-Lô

Year by year, 2010 to 2019

All decades

Identified causes

By country

All sightings