Skip to content
UAP Nexus
As reported

Circle over Altoona, IA

A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.

The report, as filed

Star like object solid light travelling NW 2137-2139. It flew over a normal plane travelling at regular altitude speed that was heading SW. The ISS is currently east of Africa over the ocean. I know there are more satellites but this was bright, traveling quickly, and seems to be much higher than a plane travelling @ several thousand feet. Interested in seeing what this was. I've reported a similar sighting to mufon Iowa, but the report system there isn't working. Large circle, bright as a star, slightly larger than the brightest stars you will see in the night sky, and appears to look like it's floating, almost to flying in a perfectly straight path. Never changed direction, probably a satellite, but still very cool.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #139474). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.

Ask for the records

What would the paper say?

For a dated, located U.S. sighting, FAA radar data and ATC communications are the records most likely to exist. Through Aletheca, the house instrument, anyone can commission the request — filed, chased, and published in the open, refusals included. The draft goes over already written: the records sought, and the date window they would live in.

Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2018-04-13 → 2018-04-30

From the same sky

Related entries

June 3, 2023 · 12:48 AM · FIREBALL

Altoona, IA

I was sitting in my backyard on my trampoline when I saw a firework looking flare. Which is what I thought it was. Then it did not explode and just disappeared. It was right above the trees so I could see it pretty well.

September 30, 2019 · 8:57 PM · FIREBALL

Altoona, IA

At approximately 20:57-20:59, there was a bright orange fireball over Iowa. It traveled straight down extremely fast, and appeared as it was almost a large meteorite falling from the sky. Once it got about 100 feet from the ground, The light completely went out and it disappeared into the clear sky. There were never any sounds and I was waiting for the sound of impact but it never came.

May 13, 2014 · 10:58 PM · FIREBALL

Altoona, IA

We just saw a bright orange-red, round, flying object that was moving far faster than any plane. It appeared to be on a level flight so it wasn't descending. It did not fade, like you'd think a meteor would. It streaked across the sky, over the moon, as low as 15-20K feet, but no sound, no trail. Very strange. They're testing drones around here, so we think maybe that's what it was? We're a college-educated, middle-aged couple from the Midwest. My husband works in Information Technology and I work in Office Management. We've never seen anything this bright and colorful in the night sky.

August 11, 2012 · 8:46 PM · TRIANGLE

Altoona, IA

Triangular shaped hovering craft with multi-colored flashing lights - seen for over 12 minutes.

August 11, 2012 · 8:30 PM

Altoona, IA

Lights spinning in circles and flashing morse code like signals.

March 6, 2008 · 6:00 PM · LIGHT

Altoona, IA

Blood-red orb being chased by multiple jets.