UNEXPLAINEDCRAFT
The Star-Shaped Contact
2013 · Middle East (CENTCOM)
WHAT IT IS
An eight-pointed star of contrast slides through an infrared frame trailing a looping white line, drops out of view, and is picked up again.
THE CASE FOR
US Central Command submitted it to AARO as an unresolved report: native infrared footage, 1 min 46 s, in which the object leaves a visible looping trail and is reacquired after a cut.
THE CASE AGAINST
The reporter gave no account of what was seen and AARO's description makes no judgement. Star-like spikes around a bright point are a common optical effect in infrared sensors, so the shape may say more about the camera than the object.
WHERE IT STANDS
Unexplained. No identification has been established. The record leaves it open.
STATUS IS OUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT, NOT A VERDICT · REVIEWED 4 OCT 2026
THE RECORD
- DATE
- 2013
- PLACE
- Middle East (CENTCOM)
- RECORDED BY
- DOW-UAP-PR038 · released by the Department of War via AARO
- TECHNICAL
- Infrared sensor, US military platform · DOW-UAP-PR038 · 1 min 46 s · PURSUE Release 1, 8 May 2026
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