Disk over Albuquerque, NM

The report, as filed

Proceeding south on Coors BLVD, at approximately 0856L, a comment was made by me to my son on how the light glinting off the hot air balloon against the clouds would makes good photo. My son took the shot and one more then sent them to me. Later when I pulled up his text to see how it came out, I noticed the disk-shaped object above the balloon. I enlarged it as much as my phone would allow. It appears the object has mass and a well-defined rim. The rim appears to have texture. The shape is disk-like and thicker in the middle than on the edges. Toward the center on the underside there appears to be a circular area lighter in color. I am retired military and my son is in retail. When I viewed the photo the first time I was at the car dealership waiting for my car to be serviced. I have not yet looked at it on my home computer. The photo was taken with a phone from the front seat of the car. (( With permission from the witness, we sent her photos to a person who is skilled at photo-analysis. We share his comments below, and we expect to continue working on the issue: COMMENT FROM PHOTO-ANALYST: Peter, Just started on this a moment ago. First impressions: 1. EXIF file shows it is not an authentic raw camera file. 2. Multiple points of inconsistency, indicating it is an overlay. 3. Object appears to have been superimposed. 4. Balloons have been cut and pasted. I will continue digging into this, however, it does seem with one point alone, (see blue sky underneath the object were it should have been blocked by object), deems it a Photoshop overlay. END ADDENDUM)) ADDENDUM #2 FROM MOTHER TO WITNESS OF ALLEGED SIGHTING)) I’m embarrassed. My son used an app to generate the pictures. I have no idea how he’s going to pay me for this one but I’ll go at it slowly. As for me, in addition to my most abject apology, I ask you how I might make it up to you? I’m so very angry in addition to my mortification. I had asked him early on if he was using an app but he didn’t respond. He was at work so I thought he was busy. Sometime in the middle of the day he sent me another photo. Later in the afternoon, I had the chance to look at it and I think it is after your call telling me you said it was most likely an overlay, and found it was strange both pictures had the “UFO” at the same angle and the same amount of the vehicle was showing. Later even I looked at the third photo and it was the same as the others. When I picked up my son, he admitted his “joke”. My son has no idea how this affected me. He doesn’t know what I’ve seen and wouldn’t believe me if he did. Actually, I wouldn’t either if I hadn’t been with a person who was not connected to me in any way. I’m not afraid, sir, I’m respectful of the information and implications. These are real events that deserve careful research and consideration. Now I hope you understand a little better the gravity of my apology. My son and I will have a conversation when I’m ready. But I still owe you, Mr. Davenport. Regards, name deleted)) END ADDENDUM))

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #122655). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.