Metallic Orb UFOs — An Analysis

Nov 23, 2024

At Enigma, our team of engineers continues to build out internal tools to detect trends and patterns in the UFO sightings data reported to us. This includes geographic hotspots, flight patterns, craft patterns. Over the past year we have spoken to active fighter pilots in the US, currently stationed at USAF bases. Orbs and spheres continue to be one of our most commonly reported UAP shapes. Interestingly, in AARO's recent November hearing, they also showed that orbs and spheres are frequently reported, with most sightings occurring, "between 15,000 to 25,000 feet" (they note that this happens to be where most of their sensors are. In AARO's 2024 consolidated report, from May 2023 to June 2024, "orbs, spheres, round" UAP constituted 22% of reported sightings, as shown below:

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Enigma speaks regularly with active duty fighter pilots stationed at USAF bases. They tell us anecdotally that they see "metallic" looking spheres or orbs, sometimes multiple times per day when they are flying and doing training exercises. They say that these objects appear at 24,000 to 28,000 feet (consistent with AARO's data).

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We were interested to run an analysis on spheres / orbs to see what we could learn, particularly about orbs that appear metallic. Our high level findings are below:

  • A total of 6,226 total orb or sphere sightings were submitted to the Enigma skywatching network, Dec 2022 - Sept 2024 in the USA. California and Texas reported the most orbs, note collection bias as those states have higher popluations
  • 72% of these met our quality bar and were approved. Approved sightings are immediately on both our web and iOS platforms – 4,467 approved orb sightings
  • Of these, we drilled down further and found 322 metallic orb sightings. These were orbs described as “metallic,” “metal,” or “silver” are plotted on this map and shown below:
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We did find that "metallic orbs" have been seen near many of the US' military bases. A sample set around just three bases is shown below. These case links are summaries, not showing the full details. We also have research showing sightings around critical infrastructure, energy sites, and navy destroyers. 

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August 1, 2023 | A metallic sphere was seen flying low, then disappeared into the sky, near Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. Enigma case #279102

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Several sightings near Joint Base Lewis–McChord (JBLM) in Washington state: May 26, 2023 | a "silver grey sphere flying at low altitude" Enigma case #277124.  July 23, 2024 | "a three foot high shiny oval" Enigma case #296393. January 10, 2024 | a "silver ball following a plane" Enigma Case #287365

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Several sightings near Eglin Airforce Base in Florida. June 4, 2024 | "silent silver orbs in formation" Enigma case # 294660. June 12, 2023 | "silent silver craft appears after a flash" Enigma case #277452

In addition to these trends around military sites in the US, our systems also detect patterns such as "flaps" or UAP appearing over consecutive days and nights. A few of these include:

  • August 10 - 11, 2023 orb flap, over New York, California, Oregon, and Illinois. Enigma cases include #280526, #288642, #279456. Some descriptions below
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  • May 7th 2024 orb flap in New Jersey. Enigma cases include #292689, #292668. Descriptions below
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  • August 21, 2024 orb flap in Massachusetts. Enigma cases include #297926, #297905
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  • September 13 - 19th, 2024 orb flap across across Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio; also Nevada and Colorado. Enigma cases include #299528, #299353, #299419, #299473, #299518, #299639, #299624. Multiple reports said the orbs moved fast or erratically, and most of these reports noted no propellers or traditional aircraft features on the objects. Half the accounts reported the object as "silent."
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We will continue to focus on the metallic orb or sphere trend in coming months. Have you seen anything similar? You can report it to us on web or on the iOS mobile app (Android coming soon, join the waitlist here). On the iOS app, you can opt to receive real-time sighting alerts of anomalous objects in your area. The Enigma skywatcher network is now hundreds of thousands of people watching the skies. We appreciate your support in driving forward progress on the UAP mystery.

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