Oval over Sparks, NV

The report, as filed

Subject: UFO Sighting Report - Sparks, Nevada - December 20, 2018 Date and Time of the Sighting: December 20, 2018, at around 4:40pm. Location of the Sighting: I was situated at Teglia's Paradise Park in Sparks, Nevada, sitting in my car eating and talking. The UFO was observed in the west/southwest of my location, hovering over a mountain range north of Lake Tahoe. Duration of the Sighting: Initially, the object was observed with the naked eye as a solid black shape for approximately 2-3 minutes. Once I began recording it with my phone from inside the car due to the cold weather, it started shifting from solid black to transparent and back, a phenomenon that was captured for an additional 2 minutes. Appearance and Behavior of the Object: The object appeared as a solid, black, oval or "tic-tac" shape. It was first noticed by my friend, who drew my attention to it. The object was seen hovering at the approximate altitude of the mountains and exhibited controlled, horizontal movement, shifting left and right from our perspective. The object's transparency seemed to shift only after I began recording it. Weather Conditions: The day was cloudy and, given the time of year, it was quite cold and windy. Witnesses: I was not the sole witness to this event - it was first noticed by my friend, who alerted me to its presence. Emotional Impact: During the sighting, we were excited, but the inability to explain what we had seen left us feeling anxious and shocked in the years that followed. Visual Material: The video recorded on my phone captured the object's distinct shifting transparency and its controlled movements for about 2 minutes, after observing it with the naked eye for about 2-3 minutes. Personal Response and Efforts to Debunk: I've always been skeptical about unidentified flying objects and have made substantial efforts to understand what we saw that day. I posted the video on Reddit, where it received over 400 likes and sparked many discussions. Some suggested that it could have been bird murmurations, but considering the high altitude, the time of year, and the local weather conditions in Reno, this seems unlikely. The cold, windy conditions and mountainous terrain also make the idea of a drone or balloon extremely unlikely. Although the sighting did not occur near an airport, there is one in the vicinity in Reno, which adds another layer of complexity to the sighting due to airspace regulations. Following the Recent UFO Congressional Hearings: I've been inspired to share this incident with professional organizations that might help shed light on what we witnessed. Previous Experiences: This is the first time I've witnessed such an event. The object and its behavior were unlike anything I've previously seen. Additional Information: I can provide pinpoint locations on Google Earth both of my location at Teglia's Paradise Park and of where I believe the UFO was hovering over the mountain range. My hope in reporting this sighting is to find a plausible explanation for the event and to contribute to our collective understanding of such phenomena. I believe in the importance of rigorous scrutiny and welcome any insights or information that can help explain this occurrence.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #177328). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.