Buzz
Numerous unidentified flying objects have been observed throughout history. This compilation showcases some of the earliest documented encounters, some thrilling and others quite bizarre. Astonishingly, many notable individuals have reported sightings of UFOs over the years.
10. Edmond Halley
Astronomer Edmond Halley, famous for documenting Halley’s Comet, witnessed two unidentified flying objects during his lifetime. The first encounter occurred in March 1676, where he described one of the objects as having a “vast body seemingly larger than the moon.”
According to Halley, the object was approximately 64 kilometers (40 miles) above his head. He reported hearing a sound similar to “the rattling of a great cart over stones.” After observing its movement over a few minutes, he estimated it was traveling at a speed exceeding 15,500 kilometers per hour (9,600 mph).
9. Alexander The Great
In 329 BC, during a military campaign, Alexander the Great and his army were crossing a river when they observed silver shields, with flames encircling their edges, in the sky. The mysterious objects swooped down repeatedly at the soldiers, causing the war elephants and horses to become agitated. Eventually, Alexander and his troops abandoned their attempt to cross the river, opting to wait until the following morning to continue.
8. Aurora, Texas
In 1897, long before the infamous Roswell UFO incident, another mysterious crash occurred in Aurora, Texas. Around 6:00 AM, a spacecraft collided with Judge Proctor’s windmill and exploded into fragments. Amidst the wreckage, some claimed to have discovered alien symbols resembling hieroglyphics.
A severely disfigured “Martian pilot” was also found among the debris. The town chose to bury the body in their cemetery, where it remains to this day, though the grave marker was later stolen.
7. Marseilles, France
On the evening of August 25, 1608, near Marseilles, France, a lone spacecraft was observed moving erratically through the sky. After halting midair, two beings emerged and appeared to engage in combat. This strange scene was also witnessed over Nice, France.
As if that weren’t extraordinary enough, a similar UFO confrontation occurred just a few miles away in Genoa. The following week, a strange, red rain poured down. It's fascinating that so many witnesses reported the same event in an era when air travel was nonexistent.
6. Nuremberg, Germany
At dawn on April 14, 1561, the citizens of Nuremberg, Germany, witnessed a strange event in the sky. Two enormous black cylinders launched numerous black and blue spheres, blood-red crosses, and white discs. The spectacle lasted for about an hour, ending when several of the objects flew directly into the Sun. Onlookers reported seeing multiple objects fall to the ground outside the city.
A local newspaper described the sighting of the spheres and crosses as follows:
[ . . .] approximately 3 in length, sometimes four in a square, much remained separate, and between these balls, a number of crosses in blood-red color could be seen. Then two large pipes were observed, from which small and large pipes appeared, 3 balls in all, sometimes four or more. All these elements began to engage in combat with each other.
5. Basel, Switzerland
At dawn on August 7, 1566, the people of Basel, Switzerland, witnessed black spheres seemingly engaged in an aerial battle for several hours. Samuel Coccius, who documented the events in Basel’s gazette, wrote:
When the sun rose, many large black balls were observed moving swiftly through the air toward the sun. They then made sharp turns, colliding with each other as if engaged in combat. A large number of them turned red and ignited, eventually burning out and disappearing.
4. New Zealand
For about a month during the winter of 1909, residents of New Zealand reported sightings of “airships” of varying sizes. The sightings were reported in several newspapers from different locations across the country. The areas where the airships were frequently observed became so popular that people would gather and watch the night sky, hoping to spot the “phantom ship.”
The airship sightings were recorded both day and night, but no witnesses were ever closer than 30 meters (100 feet). At the time of these sightings, no known airships were flying over New Zealand. According to witness accounts, the sightings began in the southern part of the country, moved north, and then continued toward Australia.
3. Thutmose III
The ancient Egyptian Tulli Papyrus holds one of the earliest recorded UFO sightings. The papyrus documents the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who ruled from approximately 1504 to 1450 BC. The sighting is believed to have occurred around 1480 BC.
Chroniclers reported seeing a circle of fire descending from the sky. It gave off a foul odor but had no head. It was about one rod in length and width. Bewildered, the scribes bowed down to the object and informed the pharaoh. Thutmose reflected on the occurrence, and soon after, the UFOs appeared in even greater numbers. The pharaoh and his army watched as the fiery circles ascended into the sky. Incense was burned, and Thutmose instructed the scribes to record the day as one of great significance.
+ Jose Bonilla
In 1883, Mexican astronomer Jose Bonilla observed objects crossing in front of the Sun through a hazy mist. He documented the event, noting his observations and capturing photographs. Bonilla never attempted to explain what he had seen.
Three years later, a French astronomy journal suggested that the photographs had actually captured high-flying birds or insects on the lens. In 2011, three Mexican astronomers proposed that Bonilla may have witnessed fragments of a comet, as his notes indicated he counted 447 pieces over a two-day period.
2. Windsor Castle, England
At 9:45 PM on August 18, 1783, four individuals observed a glowing object in the sky from the terrace of Windsor Castle. The object they saw resembled a meteor, except it remained stationary at times and changed colors. The following year, an account in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society described what the witnesses saw:
An elongated cloud moving roughly parallel to the horizon. Beneath this cloud, a bright spherical object was visible. Initially pale blue, the object’s brightness intensified before it halted. It then moved eastward, changed course, and continued parallel to the horizon before vanishing to the southeast. The light from this object was extraordinary, illuminating everything on the ground below.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
In 1639, a mysterious light was observed over Boston. It moved rapidly back and forth, from Back Bay Fens, across the Charles River, and toward Charlestown. Governor John Winthrop even mentioned the event in his journal. The main witness was known for his good reputation, activity, and estate in Boston. The event was described as follows:
In this year, a man named James Everell, a sober and reputable individual, along with two others, saw a bright light late at night over Muddy River. When the light remained still, it flared up and appeared to be about three yards square. When it moved, it took the shape of a pig and darted quickly like an arrow toward Charlestown, zigzagging for about two or three hours. They traveled a mile in their lighter, and when the phenomenon ended, they found themselves carried back against the tide to their starting point. Several other reliable witnesses later reported seeing the same light in the same area.
++ Christopher Columbus
On the night of October 11, 1492, while on watch aboard the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus noticed a distant light shimmering in the darkness. He immediately summoned Pedro Gutierrez, who also observed the light. The mysterious glow disappeared and reappeared multiple times throughout the night, flickering up and down in brief, sudden flashes.
Columbus believed that these strange lights were an omen, signaling that land was near. Four hours later, land was indeed discovered.
