UFO Or Ifo - Can You Identify These Objects?
How do you stack up against MUFON's trained UFO Field Investigators? Take a look at the example cases in this quiz and see if you can use the information to distinguish the real UFOs from the IFOs (Identified Flying Objects)!
Questions and Answers
- 1.
WITNESS REPORT:"On our way home from Paducah to Mayfield, I noticed six orange lights gliding slowly in the sky just off the side of the highway. The lights appeared to be moving at a slow rate of speed. My wife, two children and I observed these lights for approximately 5 minutes or more. Several other cars pulled over on the highway in that area as well. The lights slowly faded out of sight one at a time beginning with the one at the tip of the chevron and ending with the last light. I was able to take the picture with my cell phone shortly before the lights started disappearing."
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
This case was investigated by one of Kentucky's best Field Investigators in January 2010. Based on the quality and credibility of witness statements, the objects were determined to be unknown.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The witness who submitted this photo describes the object as a glowing object that seems to dance about and hover at an altitude higher than what planes fly, and that the object seems to disappear when there are man-made craft causing air traffic. She reports having sightings of this or similar objects for many years, noting that the object "shows up" more during certain months and seasons than it does in others. She submitted the following photo as evidence with her report:
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
This case was examined by California Field Investigators in conjunction with photo analysts from MUFON Int'l, and was determined to be a planet, likely Jupiter. Viewing the planet with the movement of clouds in the foreground can give the appearance that it is "dancing" or "hovering".Rate this question:
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- 3.
WITNESS REPORT: My nephew and neice were having their graduation party at the pavillion of the lake where I took the photo. This lake(Lake Granger-Willis Creek Park) is located about 20 miles south/southeast from my current physical address. My son and 3 other children had been begging me all day to take them down to the water so they could swim. I finally took them all down to the water when it became cooler that evening. Just me, my son and the three others went down to the water, which was about 50 yards from the pavillion, down the bank that leads to a tiny(non-swimming) beach area. As they were playing in the water I decided to take a couple of pictures of them, while just sitting there in my lawn chair.The kids were about 10-12 feet out in the water from the bank. It was still pretty sunny and hot and the lake was very calm. In the picture you can see the kids are playing with and around a lot of logs and sticks, due to the low lake levels because of the hot weather and drought here in Texas.I only took two pictures of the kids with my cell phone camera. I NEVER HEARD NOR SAW ANYTHING while taking the pictures and as you can tell from the picture, the kids don't even notice what's behind them ! Later that night I was looking through the pictures I had taken throughout the day and realized I caught an unidentified object over the water of the lake!
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
This case was investigated by Texas MUFON, who was able to discern that the object in the photo is an IFO - a a T-6 Trainer aircraft that had been converted to resemble a B5N2 Nakajima WW2 era airplane. This analysis was later confirmed by the owner and pilot of the plane, who acknowledged that he had been flying in the area over the lake the day the photo was taken.Rate this question:
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- 4.
WITNESS REPORT:Im a storm chaser in Panama City Beach, Florida. On 8/11/2000 offshore lightning was seen so I desided to go down to the beach and film the lightning. While filming the offshore thunderstorms I noticed two objects to the east of me. The city lights would light them up just enough for me to notice them. I zoomed in with the camcorder and was amazed to see two black triangles with NO LIGHTS. One doing impossible moves, such as, full circles, shooting back and forth up and down, moving at slow speed then darting fast and stop in mid flight and one that stayed stationary. Moving one did two circles besides the stationary craft then overlapped the object completing the circle now hovering level with the stationary one. Then it moves from right to left slowy and rubs the bottom of the second craft and slowly moves down and away until lightning lights them up. The moves were incrediable! Hovering stationary and gracefully moving up down, left, right, doing circles without having to turn around! It was like there was no front cause it moved in all directions. The whole time one object would remain stationary not moving at all but the second one did all the crazy stuff. Throughout the time the moving craft ALWAYS returned to the stationary craft. They did this for about 15mins and I lost sight of them in the darkness. Nothing, no plane, kites, birds, remote control air craft can stop in mid flight, back up and hover then dart away. NOTHING.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
MUFON Field Investigators in Florida met with this witness and examined the video evidence. After comparing the footage to that of known aerial objects and phenomena, the objects in this sighting were determined to be unknown.Rate this question:
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- 5.
WITNESS REPORT:A friend and I were running up to the top of the hill in Jessup Pa (church St). While walking down the hill, my friend who is slightly skeptical saw a "star" appear out of nowhere. There were no clouds that night. I took 3 pics. One white light blinked off, this shows an obvious solid object in the sky the fits the normal description of a UFO. It is plain as day to me, but others may have their doubts. The pics while the lights were on were odd-shaped, and different both times. The object, though, is still lit up maybe from inside or the light was dimmed for some reason.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
Field Investigators in Pennsylvania interviewed the witnesses to this sighting and analyzed the photo evidence. At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigators were unable to identify the object in the photos, and the object was classified as unknown.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The witness reports snapping a photo of this object while shooting pictures of chemtrails as seen through the window of his car. He reports using an $800 10 megapixel Canon digital camera.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
The object in this photo was analyzed and found to be a reflection of interior lights on the window of the car that the picture was taken from.Rate this question:
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- 7.
WITNESS REPORT:Object was first observed while traveling south on AzHwy 87 through the Gila Indian reservation in the vicinity of the Blackwater trading post, at approximately 1815 hrs. The object was significantly brighter than anything else appearing in the northern sky at this time. The initial impression was that it could possibly be the landing lights of a commercial aircraft on approach (which frequently fly over the area). However the size and brightness of the object would have indicated that the aircraft would have been flying much lower than usual. Given the time of day, there was still a significant amount of sunlight which should have made the shape of any aircraft visible, none was observed. Upon closer inspection the object seemed to maintain a stationary position. The initial color of the observed object was a very bright "clean" white light. The exact shape of the object was difficult to determine due to its luminescence, but was roughly circular/spherical. The object was observed further upon arriving in Coolidge AZ, approximately 5-10 minutes later. The object had not seemed to change position, luminosity or color during this time frame. The object remained stationary in the sky North/NW of Coolige AZ for the next 25-40 minutes. The brightness of the object remained constant with the exception of a slight dimming effect when occasional clouds seemingly passed between the object and observers. The color of the object changed from a "clean", bright white light to an orange/yellow to an orange to a red color during the 25-40 minutes it was observed. This change in color seemed directly proportional to the degree with which the sun past below the horizon. During this time, while the color changed, the brightness did not seem to change. As the sun dropped below the horizon the object had taken on a distinctly red coloration. A few minutes later a cloud seemed to pass in front of the object which remained visible, though slightly less bright. During this time behind the cloud, the object steadily faded in brilliance until it was no longer visible. When the clouds passed and clear sky appeared the object was still not visible. The object did not reappear. No sounds, sensations or movements were associated with the object. The only feelings were those of curiosity as to the nature of the object.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
The Arizona Field Investigator assigned to this case, along with the Arizona MUFON State Director, were able to view this object for themselves using binoculars as well as the naked eye. This IFO was in fact determined to be a weather balloon. From the completed report:
"On 15-09-09 I verified w/Christine Dickey an internet website, towerflts.csbf.nasa.gov/googlemaps/convgps.htm, that it was indeed an weather baloon, HASP Flt # 600N at 30,952 ft. altitude 33deg.30.37 N. Lat. 113deg 13.78 W. Ltd."Rate this question:
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- 8.
This photo was submitted to MUFON by a man who described 19 disc shaped objects hovering in the skies of Chicago. From the report:"I was not a witness, but have come across stunning photos taken by a third party that must be seen. I don't think the photographer knows what he/she has. For a fuller explanation and photo links: http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/2009/02/ufo-fleet-over-chicago-feb-8-2009.html Thank You."
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
This and the other photos posted at the link in the report were analyzed and found to be photos of the reflection of ceiling lights in a window - a very common IFO in photographs.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Witness says he was instantly awakened by bright light that passed through his room and out his window. By the time he put on his slippers, grabbed his camera and ran outside the light had moved about a mile away and appeared to be hovering. He estimated the light's altitude for the duration of the sighting at approximately 600 to 700'. The orange orb in pics 0253 & 0254 was not visible when the pics were taken. S Venet, 3rd shift No phone number, sent email to contact dispatch. No craft, just a light anomaly.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
After a thorough investigation of the witness's camera, astronomical data at the time of the sighting, and a detailed witness interview, the object was determined by Georgia Field Investigators to be a UFO.Rate this question:
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- 10.
WITNESS REPORT:I went to town to see the lighting of the Christmas tree on November 27th, 2009. I got a new 2.8 lens and wanted to take some photos in a low light setting. I shot about 100 photos that evening from about 5:00 p.m. to around 8:00 p.m. The next day when I was uploading them to my computer I noticed some lights in the sky of one of them. When I zoomed in I saw a shape with the lights that intrested me, and that I didn't know what it was. I begain to look through my other photos and I found simular lights and shapes in 2 other photos. All 3 photos with the lights and shapes in question in the sky were while I was standing on front street facing west. I had taken 4 photos that evening from that same area, facing west, and those same lights are in 3 of them. (I did not find these lights, or anything like them in any of my other photos I took any place else that night.) Of the 4 I took facing west, the photo they were not in was the first one I took, about 5:00 p.m. The first two where they were was taken about 5:40 p.m. by the clock in one of the photos. The third one that the lights were in was taken about 6:00- 6:15 p.m. I really know nothing more about these.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
The objects in this photo were investigated by MUFON International's top photo analyst and found to be lens flare artifacts caused by reflections in the witness's digital camera.Rate this question:
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- 11.
WITNESS REPORT:I was in the Target parking lot in Westfield, and saw a red-orange fireball go from the Target store almost right above me to Clay Terrace. Travling north to south. Then I lost sight, but got four shots with a Nikon D90. This shot is zoomed in, but untouched. This was definately not an after-burner on a jet. It was going too slow, and no noise at all. My brother saw a red-orange orb in Kokomo just a few days before I saw this one. He said it looked like the same thing, and was surprised I got this good of a shot.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
After cross-referencing the witness photos with others from various reports that had come in from the area, the Indiana Field Investigator who processed this case found the object to be unknown.Rate this question:
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- 12.
WITNESS REPORT: I was looking to the North east at the cloud formation when I saw something flashing against the large cloud in the background. I watched for about a minute, then told the others who had their backs to it, they turned to observe the object also, I then decided to go to the basement and get my bionaculars with built in camera. When I returned I saw that the object had moved to the southwest of us and just to the north of McConnell AFB. Which is to our south. We were thinking it might have to do with the military, I talked with a confidental source from the base and was told there was no military action they knew takeing place. Even with the optical aid I could see no definition to the object it was just smooth and round, I then remembered to photograph it. I felt that the object must be powered because it was traveling into the wind. At least the wind on the ground was from that direction. The object seemed to stay in that spot for about 5min then went up into a cloud formation and dissapeared. We watched until the cloud passed and there was nothing. Even useing the bionaculars I could not locate it. I told my wife I found that odd because it was about the same time frame in 1958 that my mother father and I saw a similar object just about fifty feet from our house which traveled west then abruptly changed directions went over our house and dissapeard into the distance. That object pulsated with light and was about 75 feet in diameter.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
Based on witness interviews, analysis of his camera, and information gleaned from a confidential military source, Kansas Field Investigators determined this object to be unknown.Rate this question:
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- 13.
WITNESS REPORT:We had just parked our car and let the kids out to go inside when my son looked up and said what is that dad? I looked up and saw what looked like a white dot moving pretty fast that changed into a glowing bag...like a luminaire thing but with fire melting off of it... I asked my wife what the heck she thought it was and she had no answer. It made no noise at all. I have no idea how high it was because it was dark and really had no reference for it...it travelled from the northwest to the southeast. I grabbed a few pictures with my blackberry and then after about 20 seconds it just dissappeared. The pictures are crappy and only show a white dot and then a reddish glowing dot... I was kind of freaked out because I have never seen such a strange object. My son was freaked out for a day or 2 .
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
A thorough investigation conducted by Idaho Field Investigators concluded that the object in this photo is a chinese paper lantern illuminated by a candle inside that causes it to rise in the air like a hot air balloon.Rate this question:
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- 14.
WITNESS REPORT: I DECIDED TO TAKE MY GRANDSON DOM TO THE PRACTICE SESSION OF THE AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS AT ATLANTIC CITY'S BOARDWALK. THE MAIN SHOW IS ON WEDNESDAY ON THE BEACH . I TOOK APROX 20 PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND I CAUGHT AN IMAGE IN ONE OF THE pHOTOS. AFTER ENLARGING THE PICTURE TO THE MAX AMOUNT WITHOUT DISTORTION, THE OBJECT IS NOT A BIRD OR A PLANE. IT IS A VERY CLEAR IMAGE OF SOME KIND OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT. THERE IS ANOTHER STRANGE OBJECT ON A FEW OF THE OTHER PICTURES BUT IT MAY BE A LENS FLAIR OR SOMETHING WITHIN THE CAMERA BUT I WILL CHECK IT OUT WITH A PROFESSIONAL pHOTO TECHNICIAN. OF COURSE I DID NOT SEE THE OBJECT WHEN I WAS TAKING THE PICTURES. AFTER DOWNLOADING THE PICTURES TO MY LAP TOP IS WHEN I MADE THE DISCOVERY.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
Analysis of the digital photo yielded that the anomalous object in the picture is at a much higher altitude than the bird or airplanes. A subsequent look at every craft featured in that day's show ruled out the possibility of the object being an Air Force demo craft. Because of this, New Jersey Field Investigators concluded that this object is an unknown-UAV (Unidentified Aerial Vehicle.)Rate this question:
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- 15.
From the witness report:The subject was taking an early morning walk and was compelled to look east. Saw object. Took shot number one with camera phone. Brief time period. Actually SAW the image - it wasn't a reflection. Object in shot #1 disappeared then re-appeared to the left and further away - near the ground in second #2 as a solid orb - it appears to be light emitting. The third shot shows the object taking off to the right. The individual was in Central Florida and must remain anonymous. The person shared the photos with me. She experienced a brief sensation of "timelessness". She said she really didn't "feel" anything.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
This object is a digital lens flare, but was concluded to be a hoax based on interviews and analysis of the disposition of the witness.Rate this question:
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- 16.
WITNESS REPORT:I was working today on Potomac Street in the Evanston part of Cincinnati about 2:40 PM EDT. As I was preparing to get into my my car, I decided to take one last look at the building and take in the day because it was Spring like and the sky was clear and blue. To the left side of the house going west to east saw a contrail of a jet. The jet was flying east. It was one of those weird looking contrails and I was watching it break up. Then I noticed three or for white objects that look almost like balloons fly out of the contrail perpendicular and northward. I thought what the hell are those? They were too high for birds but I wasn't sure. I thought they might have been balloons let go but they were traveling fast and were too high. I watched them for a few seconds, then I remember I had a camera. I got the camera of the front seat and set the lens to 5x and started to take pictures. They looked like dots or blurry pearls. I watched through the tree branches and then over towards 1-71. I took pictures of them. They had an almost random formation though some traveled in lines. I counted 27 but there might have been more. A few of them were a red colors and it might have been a reflective color. They were far away to get any detail. I was thinking if they were balloons, they'd be traveling the same direction but some of them were veering to one another and not in the same direction if they were balloons in the wind. I watched them until they were gone and then watched some more. Then one more came flying behind them 30 seconds later looking like it was trying to do catch up. I check my cell phone time and it was 1445 HR. My feeling about this was that it really was cool. I had seen strange things in the past but nothing like this. There were so many of them. They didn't disappear if I looked at them. They were like white pearls. It really was neat. I was wondering if anyone else saw them and if they were heading in the direction of Wright Paterson in Dayton. The objects looked playful.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
The Ohio Field Investigator assigned to this case conducted a witness interview and photo analysis. In comparing the images to leaked footage of anomalous objects from NASA video, the investigator noted that the objects from the video looked exactly like the objects the witness had photographed. Barring no other explanation that could be found according to weather and radar data, this case was classified as unknown.Rate this question:
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- 17.
WITNESS REPORT: witnessed something I can’t explain in the skies over Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA 01.02.2010. I managed to take a few pictures on my 5 megapixel cell phone and I can not explain what these objects were. My father (retired cargo plane & helicopter pilot with 10.000 hours experience) can not identify the objects as airplanes, helicopters or blimps. I am not one of those people who obsess with UFOs, but I really have no idea what these objects were. When I took the pictures there was only one object, but every few minutes 2 other identical objects would come into frame. Since I was driving I didn’t manage to get any pictures with more than one object in frame. The sighting lasted for about 30 minutes and the one object didn’t seem to move. It was at sunset and I could not stay to observe any longer as I was getting my nephew home. My Nephew has pictures on his 8 Megapixel digital camera (3 pictures) one of them showing the object change to a black color.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
In examining the photos provided, the North Carolina Field Investigator assigned to this case was able to determine that the object in the photo is not a sundog or any other known atmospheric phenomena. The conclusion was that this object should be classified as unknown.Rate this question:
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- 18.
WITNESS REPORT:Well, this happened about a year ago and we were going on the street when we looked in the sky and there was this light that looked like a comet but it stayed still. It was around 3 in the afternoon and the sun was out so we thought well, it might be a reflection, but up in the sky there couldn't be anything that could stand still that high and make this light. It stood still no matter what angle we shot at it. And I know I wasn't the only one watching as soon as I was taking pictures of this a lot more people started taking their cameras out. I don't now what this was and would like to know if you something about it. Im kind of interested in what I saw.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
Texas Field Investigators analysed the photographs provided with the report and were able to classify it as an IFO - it is a sundog, a fairly common natural atmospheric phenomenon.Rate this question:
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- 19.
WITNESS REPORT:I was sitting on our deck with daughter and husband, looking up at the stars. I saw a strange dim reddish thing that was traveling at a slow speed , I had no idea what it was I told my daughter(10) to look too, she saw it, (husband never got up to look )we watched this travel N-S, for a few seconds then it did a small zig-zag move then traveled SE at same speed, I am having a tough time describing a shape as I couldn't tell if it were triangular or boomerang, the color was very dim like but you could see it was a reddish tone.It appeared to be very high up , but was fairly large. It was not a plane! this lasted only a minute or two then was gone in the distance. I couldn't keep my eyes off the night sky, I wanted to see it again. I had never seen anything like this before and may not have thought anything(except the color) if it hadn't flew in a zig zag pattern.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
B. IFOExplanation
Massachusetts Field Investigators' work revealed that a number of sattelites passed over the witness's home area on the evening of July 25 2009 between 9 to 11 PM in the evening: The ISS, traveling from NW to SSE. Genesis I traveling from SE to NE and Genesis 2 traveling from SW to North East.The ISS was followed by the Russian Sattelite Progress 34.
Based on additional information gleaned from witness interviews, this object was determined to be a photo of the satellite Gemini 1 or Gemini 2, and classified as an IFO.Rate this question:
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- 20.
WITNESS REPORT:I didn't even realize I had captured anything unusual on film the day this happened. I was at Paine Field in Everett photographing some flybys of historic aircraft that are kept at the airfield there. I was going back through my photos yesterday when a cigar shaped object caught my eye in my images. I enlarged the images considerably to get a better look and I simply cannot explain them or their cigar-like appearance. The easiest explanation would be that its an aircraft at high altitude, but there are no contrails evident. In these two shots I was panning the camera to follow the aircraft as it flew parallel to the runway at Paine field from south to north. I was viewing the aircraft while looking towards the west. Both images were shot at 1/250th of a second using a Canon 70-200 F4 "L" lens. The aperture was set to F13. The focal length was racked all the way out at 200mm. The type of camera used was a Canon Eos 50D. I took images in both .jpg and Canon RAW format. I have no idea what I caught on my camera, but I have an open mind about these matters and wanted to share what I had with you folks to see if you could make heads or tails of it.
- A.
UFO
- B.
IFO
Correct Answer
A. UFOExplanation
The Chief Research analyst of Washington MUFON personally investigated this case and was able to find that the object in the photograph is a solid object, traveling at speed - ruling out the possibility of camera artifacts such as lens flares. The object bears no resemblance to craft being used for demonstration that day. Upon consulting with the state's Chief Investigator, the object was classified as a UFO.Rate this question:
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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
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Current Version
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Mar 18, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Mar 01, 2010Quiz Created by
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