How to Report a UAP Sighting: A Practical Guide
Direct answer: If you see something in the sky you cannot identify, document it first, then report it. For the public in the US, the main channels are the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) and the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), both of which take reports online. Pilots report through air traffic control. The Pentagon's AARO office currently takes reports mainly from government and military personnel, with public reporting planned for later. Before reporting, try to rule out drones, satellites, and bright planets.
A good report is specific and honest. The goal is not to prove it was alien, it is to record exactly what you saw so it can be checked against ordinary explanations. Here is how to do that well.
First, document it in the moment
While it is happening, capture what you can:
- Note the date, the exact time, and how long it lasted.
- Record the direction you were facing and roughly how high above the horizon it was.
- Film or photograph it if it is safe, keeping a fixed object like a rooftop or tree in frame for scale.
- Note color, brightness, sound, whether it blinked, and how it moved.
- Write down your account quickly, before memory reshapes it.
Rule out the usual suspects
Most reports have ordinary explanations, so a quick check makes your report stronger:
- A very bright, steady dot low in the sky that does not move much is often the planet Venus or Jupiter.
- A single point of light gliding smoothly across the sky over several minutes is usually a satellite or the International Space Station.
- Blinking red, green, or white lights, often with a faint buzz, usually mean an aircraft or a drone.
- A cluster of lights moving in formation at night is frequently drones or a satellite train.
If it still does not fit any of these after you check, that is exactly the kind of report worth filing.
Where to report
Civilian networks (for the public)
The National UFO Reporting Center, NUFORC, has run a public reporting system and hotline since the 1970s and keeps one of the longest-running databases. It accepts online reports and allows anonymous submissions. The Mutual UFO Network, MUFON, maintains the largest civilian report database, assigns a case number, and may have a trained field investigator follow up on significant cases. These two are the practical starting points for most people.
Pilots and aviation
Civilian pilots are encouraged to report unusual objects to air traffic control. The FAA passes pilot reports of unidentified phenomena to the Pentagon's anomaly office, so the aviation channel feeds directly into the official record.
The US government (AARO)
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office runs an official reporting portal, but it is currently limited to current and former US government employees, service members, and contractors with firsthand knowledge, including those who signed nondisclosure agreements. Officials have said public reporting may be added later. If you are a general member of the public, the civilian networks above are the route for now.
If safety is involved
If you believe an object is an immediate danger to life or property, contact local law enforcement rather than a reporting database.
Add it to the map
You can also tell us. We log and review suggested cases for this map through the contact page, so a well-documented account can become part of the public record that others explore. For the quick version of this guidance, see our FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I report a UFO to?
For the public in the US, the main civilian channels are NUFORC and MUFON, both online. Pilots report to air traffic control. AARO currently takes reports mainly from current and former government personnel and contractors, with public reporting planned for later.
Is there an app or website to report sightings?
Yes. NUFORC and MUFON both accept reports through their websites and keep public databases. NUFORC has a hotline and allows anonymous reports; MUFON assigns case numbers and may follow up.
Can I report directly to the US government?
Not as a general member of the public yet. AARO's portal is for current and former government personnel, military, and contractors with firsthand knowledge. Public reporting may come later. Pilots report via the FAA, which feeds AARO.
How do I tell a UFO from a drone, satellite, or planet?
Steady bright dots are often planets; a smooth light crossing over minutes is usually a satellite or the space station; blinking lights and buzzing usually mean a drone or aircraft. Note speed, sound, color, blinking, and movement.
Will anyone take my report seriously?
Yes. Civilian networks log and sometimes investigate reports, and the stigma has eased as governments study the topic openly. Even ordinary-object reports help build the baseline that flags the truly unusual ones.
See it on the globe
Every documented case on our interactive 3D map started as someone reporting what they saw. Spin the globe, explore your region, and add to the record.
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