The catalog
Sightings
Witness reports, held as-reported. Each entry keeps its source, its coordinates where the record has them, and its place in the larger pattern.
3,749 entries
July 9, 2022 · 8:48 PM · CYLINDER
Roselle, IL
I was pointing out some constellation formations appearing on the horizon...it was getting dark enough to see only the major constellations like the big dipper and the North star...my eye caught some movement and I looked up, towards the northern sky saw an object that my brain asked...(and which I said aloud...which is weird, because I have grown up around Ohare Airport and all of the planes and I know they blink red and white lights in the night) "Is that an airplane?!" Followed by "Is that an airplane on fire!?!" As I realized its motion looked like a distant plane travelling through the sky…headed to the West, but it looked like it was on fire and burning. So the two other people with me looked and saw it for a minute or more and then it disappeared behind our locust tree in the front yard, but I got up and and walked over to where I could catch it still on its trajectory and it wasn't there. We assume that it had burnt out…or disappeared…but we weren't in a position to see if it just slowly burnt out and fizzled or if it just vanished into thin air.
July 6, 2022 · 12:39 AM · CIRCLE
Oaklawn, IL
Disc shape soinning colorful lights. Levitating at a slower speed.
July 4, 2022 · 9:33 PM · SPHERE
Chicago, IL
My boyfriend and I were on his roof watching fireworks when I noticed a very bright light moving at a seemingly fast pace across the sky directly above James Russel Lowell Elementary. Fireworks had been going off in this same area above the school, so I was wondering if perhaps what I was seeing could have something to do with that. However, this light was so bright I, at first, believed it had to be an airplane or even a helicopter with a searchlight. After about a minute of watching the light, it appeared to slow its progression and remain in one area directly above the school while slightly moving back and forth. At this point my boyfriend took note of it, too, and I started recording on my phone. I zoom in on it a few times and it appears to have a circular shape with a distinct inner circle (that's the best way I can describe it). At about 15 seconds, I slowed the video down when the object/light is pulsing and took screenshots, and it seems to change shapes many times; the best way I can describe the most profound shape it took on (first image I will submit) is that of some sort of cell with an illuminated wall (or aura) surrounding it. About halfway through the video, you'll see that it seems to move downward, slowly at first, then drops rapidly out of our visibility behind the school. When slowing the video down, it appears as though it changes from a bright yellowish-white color to a red orb--it looks like not only the color changes, but it looks smaller in size, too, as it drops downward. I know this is not the best description, but in the images are very distinct, peculiar shapes, and I can't imagine what might produce this. If there is a logical explanation, like a drone, any kind of aircraft or otherwise, I would really like to know. Closest major intersection to the incident / where we live is North & Kedzie. We are located just behind the school on Beach Ave. Attached is the video and a couple of screenshots, however, if you slow it down you should be able to see and capture a few other shapes as well. I took many photos and videos last night in the same area above the school if that might be helpful, or if there is anything else I can provide, I'd be more than happy to do so. Thank you for your time.
July 4, 2022 · 8:53 PM · UNKNOWN
Wheaton, IL
We were on our roof in the evening looking for fireworks when we noticed two bright flying objects hovering in the sky. They were brightly lit and appeared to flame slightly. We thought they were drones but they appeared very large and very bright. They hovered near each other and slowly descended. They were far enough away for disappear over the trees so they must have been fairly large. A darker craft was seen slightly above them.
July 4, 2022 · 2:30 AM · CIRCLE
Hickory Hills, IL
Circular/ring type craft lights looked like Gordie's glasses in Star Trek. Lights got brighter while the vehicle moved forward then disappeared. I sit and watch planes from Midway all the time. I've never seen anything like this.
July 3, 2022 · 1:45 PM · CHEVRON
Rock Island, IL
While watching a little league game at location, my eyes caught glint of sun or flash from an object in sky at 1:45pm. As I watched it move in place, looked like a white or silver bar/cylinder and was near due south. There was not much movement, but the object did change its aspect to my eye (glint/flash, then I could see some movement). After it disappeared, I remained in same spot watching game. Object reappeared at 1:50pm, I called wife and others to look but they couldn't pick it out. Each sighting was 5 seconds duration, object did not reappear the rest of the day. Sky angle was approx 45 degrees midway between horizon and zenith. Reference point was ball diamond backstop, and neither it or myself moved. Estimate the object was miles away and could have been a few thousand feet up (no clouds for reference). Conditions: 85 degrees with a cloudless sky, object was far enough from sun that I did not need to shield eyes to observe. Wind approx 12-15 mph from S or SE. Someone suggested pelican or raptor riding thermals. Intensity of flash/glint was more intense than what would be possible with a pelican's white wing tips. Escaped birthday balloon? How could it have stayed in same location given wind speed. Quad Cities airport was near, but flights observed during the day used east - west approaches. No jet landed within minutes after the sighting, esp from that direction. I am 62, an amateur astronomer, trained SkyWarn spotter, and eBird regular contributor. I see small flocks of pelicans all the time around my home.
June 22, 2022 · 8:02 PM · CYLINDER
Joliet, IL
We were sitting in my backyard enjoying dinner. When I looked up and noticed an object moving in the clear blue summer sky. It was shiny silver, no sound like an airplane, no tail or wings. Moving at a rate of speed for you to notice. It was strange.
June 20, 2022 · 6:30 PM · FIREBALL
Chicago height, IL
Look in the sky saw something move very fast. It look like a red fire with a glow outline. Wasn't a plane . It was going east in Chicago height Illinois. And then it disappeared. But was flying slow at first then move very fast and then disappeared.
June 19, 2022 · 12:15 AM · CIRCLE
Marengo, IL
Moving Object with Glowing ring following close by, slowly disappeared into the sky , was moving north east.
June 18, 2022 · 6:00 PM · FORMATION
Ottawa, IL
I was driving on i-80 east with a co-worker nearing Ottawa IL, when I saw three bright white dots in the sky. They were in a formation of a perfect triangle. At first I thought it might br planes but they remained apparently motionless as we kept driving. I asked my coworker what he thought they were and he had noticed them before I pointed them out. He couldn't give any guesses and tried to take a picture but his phone camera is not very good. After driving and watching for a few minutes, we noticed a 4th bright white light appear, the triangle broke patern into more of a circle or oval then started rotating. This was the first I seen any of the dots move at all. This whole time I wasn't paying attention to exit signs and almost missed my exit at Ottawa. I got over and got off but when I looked back up they were gone. I wish I wasn't driving because my phone may have been able to capture something of it. I believe cars around us saw it as well, because when I looked at my speedometer before I got off the highway we were all going 15 under the speed limit. The weirdest part and I wasn't going to mention at first was I thought we were another 25 minutes away from Ottawa and when I looked up we were almost passed it, time went by super fast. And a kind of dark vision in my eyes from staring at those lights, kind of like getting a direct glimpse of the sun makes the background darker.
June 18, 2022 · 1:15 AM · LIGHT
Streator, IL
Me and my boyfriend were sitting on the back patio of my home. It was a little after 1 am when my boyfriend (Josh) stated we probably didn’t need the bug zapper on due to it only being around 50 degrees out and us not seeing any bugs out. The zapper let’s off a fair amount of light. As soon as he unplugged it we both notice a bright light start to appear in the sky west of us. It looked as though something was breaking through the sky. After about 30 seconds a brighter object come through and hovered for a few more seconds. Then all of a sudden it started to release what appeared to be a vapor of some kind. At first it was all coming out in just a big puff and then it turned into a circle . The circle drifted north east while the object then very quickly zoomed south of the vapor but also heading east. The object stayed a very bright light the entire time. We watched it zoom past for maybe 15 seconds heading towards a star and then once it got to the star it disappeared. The vapor it released expanded into a bigger circle drifting more east for a bit and then broke apart and made several different shaped clouds. The sky was completely clear and lots of stars were visible. The only formation of clouds came from whatever this object had released.
June 8, 2022 · 9:00 PM · OTHER
Chicago, IL
Chicago the history of his phone, he's being spammed. All of Lakeview. The reason the ships are seeing alien crafts some are my God Powers run lose, other are friends from space, other are from the planet. YOU HAVE TO INVESTIGATE HIS. TRAIMON IS KEY..312-273-8535 343 80 4561. HE KNOWS ABOUT THE UFO. HES ALIEN. HE CONTROLLING ELEMENTS. And Emil. He using low signls, so am rights stations should pick up his voice. You me E him. Basically God is walking on your planet. And these are his Friend. The is God shield protecting you from evil.. the Woman in the pangton needs to know this exists!!!! I am God, I have used every means to get your attention. I hacked your system Checks and Balances
June 6, 2022 · 9:07 PM · OVAL
Bolingbrook, IL
Seen about 6 oval lights in a row, looks like they were moving toward a capsule
May 31, 2022 · 3:23 AM · FIREBALL
Tinley Park, IL
Appeared over the same area as Tinley park lights but looked different, this looked bigger and was more the color of a star
May 28, 2022 · 2:34 AM · DISK
Cherry valley, IL
I have several videos! White orbs going super fast. Hovering and taking off real fast. Doing impossible maneuvers defying the laws of physics. Defiantly seen a TR3B chasing one with a very large beam of white light. The flying saucer photo I have is a screenshot from a Live Photo on my iPhone 11 Pro Max plus. This is just open sky above a few farms and cornfields. I have one video of blue and purple orb going crazy. I have another video I believe are two ufos battling eachother. I believe they are coming and going out of my neighbors corn field. They are defiantly looking for something over here. I have several videos of TR3B hovering over my neighbors farm for several of minutes and then Taking off. This is a true triangle U.S military fighter jet that’s been going back and forth over my neighbors farm. I checked the flight paths at each time. There was none. Something very strange is happening in cherry valley Illinois.
May 27, 2022 · 5:04 AM · RECTANGLE
Sleepy Hollow, IL
While driving very early (5:00am-5:04am) in the morning to a surgery, my mom and sighted the above described object. It quickly seemed to turn in front of us then cross right over the road into a field and disappeared.
May 26, 2022 · 1:00 PM · CHANGING
Dixon, IL
The object was small and dark just above the trees. Unmanned. No lights. Moving from South to North. It moved very smoothly, steadily and silently, unlike a drone, more like how a balloon would float along. It might have been turning as it moved because the shape appears different from different angles.
May 24, 2022 · 12:09 PM · CIGAR
Windsor, IL
I was driving in my car when i seen it didnt get a close up picture. It was hovering above some trees and it was cigar shaped but flat. Hard to explain.
May 19, 2022 · 10:45 PM · FORMATION
Chicago, IL
Sitting on the roof deck with an unusually clear sky, we were watching satellites quietly cross the heavens. Then i noticed 2 objects moving rapidly toward the northwest. the objects were moving back and forth in an elliptical motion. they traded places in the lead position without ever crossing. they traded places at a rate of approx. 1 sec. i do not believe this was within the earth's atmosphere the sun was clearly hitting them, as it does satellites. when i first spotted them, i yelled "what the hell is that?" and pointed. my wife was easily able to spot them to the left of the big dipper and follow them with me until they disappeared.
May 17, 2022 · 7:35 AM · LIGHT
Sycamore, IL
Extremely bright light like a reflection in a mirror moving around for approximately 30 seconds back and forth across the sky and then it disappeared. It was light out and I was driving into the sun and it was still very bright. It looked like the sky was distorted around it. It was like a prismatic flashlight beam being reflected in a mirror in the sky.
May 15, 2022 · 10:33 PM · LIGHT
Coatsburg, IL
The craft "jumped" around the sky a bit while flickering light so quickly I could almost keep up. It eventually made its way from the west to the east after darting seemingly in all directions.
May 14, 2022 · 10:40 PM · CYLINDER
Chicago, IL
This cylinder shaped object was moving at the speed of a low hanging cloud (moving east toward the lake, coming from the direction of O’Hare Airport). It had no lights and was exposed by the city glow. I checked twitter or reddit to see if anyone else had spotted it but found nothing. Was sitting with a friend on a 3rd story deck when we saw it. Wasn’t scary, just bizarre. Moments after it disappeared, a bush plane flew by where it had been.
May 7, 2022 · 9:30 PM · DIAMOND
Rockford, IL
We was BBQ when we say something strange in the sky.
April 14, 2022 · 1:30 AM · FIREBALL
Peoria, IL
I grew up in the area until 21 years of age and was always fascinated in the night sky and would say I’m familiar with stars, moon, comets, satellites, aircraft, and such. I even know what a Chinese floating lantern looks like. What I saw this night at around 1:30 am wasn’t anything I’ve ever seen before. A friend and I were working late night on a car in the garage and I went out to grab a part that was needed from my car. I called for my friend to come outside to see this and he can not explain what it was either as it too was something he has never seen before either. It was a glowing ball of fire the size of my thumbnail at arms length. It wasn’t omitting any noise and the orb was pulsating lightly heading to the East and with a wide sweeping arc slowly turned and headed to the Northwestern direction. It did not have a red or green blinking light like aircraft have and certainly was not a helicopter with a search beam. Again, a glowing reddish orange fireball making no noise and floated slowly changing direction to almost 180degree in which it came from and disappeared out of sight. I know that what this object I was looking at was a UAP/UFO. I hope this helps with recent sighting and for the location.