In a significant move toward solving the riddle of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has published a technical report with a startling claim.
Many UFO sightings reported by civilians and pilots alike may actually be the result of "satellite flaring" from megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink.
The 18-page analysis, released in April 2025, outlines how sunlight reflecting off satellite surfaces-particularly Starlink’s mirrored antenna arrays-can create dramatic, short-lived flashes of light that often resemble glowing orbs, moving lights, or even "rotating triangles."
These aren’t extraterrestrial visitors. They’re optical illusions caused by man-made satellites.
💡 What Is Satellite Flaring?
Flaring occurs when sunlight reflects off the surfaces of satellites-such as solar panels or smooth metallic antennas-toward an observer on Earth.
There are two types:
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Diffuse Reflection: A general glow across the sky, often seen as a "moving star."
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Specular Reflection (Glint): A sharp, bright flash of light that can outshine any star-sometimes mistaken for high-speed UFOs.
According to AARO, Starlink flares have become a leading cause of misreported UAPs-especially since SpaceX now operates over 6,700 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with plans for tens of thousands more.
📸 The Evidence
AARO’s own staff conducted field experiments near Sidney, Nebraska in March 2024, capturing multiple satellite flares with professional-grade equipment.
The photos, included in the report, show:
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Bright white streaks in the pre-dawn sky
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Flares that vastly outshine nearby stars
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Apparent formations of satellites in geometric "trains"
They also offer tools for the public and aviation professionals to predict when and where such flares might occur using sun angle calculations and satellite mapping tools like SunCalc and Starlink trackers.
🧠 Why These Flares Trick the Eye
What makes satellite flaring so deceptive is the precision of the angles involved.
When the Sun, the satellite, and the observer align just right, even a relatively small reflective surface on a satellite can send a beam of light directly into an observer’s eyes. This creates the illusion of:
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Sudden appearance or disappearance
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Lateral movement
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Spinning orbs or triangular motion
The report notes that flares can appear to "move in different directions" when multiple satellites flare simultaneously along separate orbits-a common complaint in pilot UAP reports.
✈️ One Case Solved
AARO applied their flare model to a real-world UAP report filed by an airline pilot near Gallup, New Mexico in October 2022. The pilot had described "multiple lights moving in different directions."
Using satellite tracking and sun-angle modeling, AARO determined that the lights were almost certainly Starlink satellites flaring at the exact time and location described.
They even recreated the scenario using digital sky maps and constellation overlays.
🚨 Implications for UAP Research
The takeaway is clear: A substantial portion of reported UFOs may have earthly origins-specifically, spaceborne internet satellites.
But this doesn’t mean all UAP sightings are solved. AARO acknowledges that not every sighting can be explained by satellite flares. However, this new framework offers a practical method for disqualifying false positives before jumping to conclusions.
It also raises new concerns:
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Light pollution from satellite constellations is growing
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Astronomical observation is being compromised
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Public trust in UAP investigations may suffer without public education on satellite optics
🛰️ Science vs Sensationalism
While some UAP enthusiasts may balk at this explanation, AARO’s rigorous treatment of the phenomenon does not dismiss the UAP issue outright.
Instead, it brings scientific clarity to a misunderstood but increasingly common visual artifact of the satellite age.
In the words of the report:
"These phenomena are the result of technological advances… taken to proliferate global internet access by placing thousands of satellites in LEO."
In short: We built the lights in the sky-now it’s time we understood them.
